Noticed recently that the Munnings Museum had just reopened for the new ‘season’ so, as we had lived here for twenty seven years and hadn’t managed to squeeze in a visit, decided to do precisely that. After all, it’s such a long drive, being all of half an hour away down the A12 (sigh)
The Munnings Art Museum is actually at Castle House, the former home of the artist Sir Alfred Munnings (1878-1959) and his wife, Violet. Described by Munnings as “the house of my dreams” he lived and worked in this elegant Tudor and Georgian building for over forty years until his death in 1959. The house, artist’s studio and garden are set in forty acres of beautiful countryside in the Dedham Vale on the borders of Essex and Suffolk.
The museum owns the largest collection of art works by this prolific East Anglian painter and former President of the Royal Academy (1944-1949). You can also savour the ambience of Castle House with the furniture and personal items which remain in situ as if Sir Alfred and Violet have just left the room to return at any moment. We were welcomed by friendly and informative staff and we very quickly learned (I did anyway) that Munnings was far from simply and only a painter of horses, famed as he justifiably is for that particular subject matter. The current specialist exhibition was called “Munnings: Colour & Light” and ably demonstrates his lifelong passion for seeing colour and light and his innate ability to capture these elements in his painting. The exhibition showcases over forty paintings and with much of the narrative in his own words the exhibition offers a very personal insight into his love of painting. Excellent stuff and half price with the Art Passes!
As we arrived early (the Museum opens at 1.30pm), after the now customary coffee and cake interlude at the onsite café (surprisingly fine coffee), we decided to take the walk back into Dedham centre for a stroll around. By retracing our steps through Southfields and then on to The Drift we realised that, when previously looking for the museum, we had indeed come the right way but unfortunately hadn’t walked quite far enough to reach the house.
Secondly, we were able to admire the Dedham architecture, including the 17thC timbered Master Weavers House (see photo etc.), the old Grammar school (with Constable amongst its pupils), the 18thC Assembly Room, which dates from the period when Dedham was a thriving market town with a popular school and busy social life and the 15thC parish church of St. Mary’s, with its very fine interior. However, the interior isn’t particularly old, save for the original beautifully carved 15th century door, complete with lovely tracery panels. Oh, and did I mention the Constable religious painting, one of only three he completed; this is The Ascension, painted in 1821 and first installed in the church the following year. I might suggest that it’s an unusual place to find a work by this particular artist.
Plenty to see, both the museum and Dedham would bear multiple visits. Ah, I didn’t even mention Princess Anne and the monkey tea!! Oh well…..