Constable Paintings at V and A

I haven't been there since before the pandemic but I vaguely recall thinking that one or two cloud studies is about enough -- I'm not a big big Constable fan, though. My sense is that the curators are constantly trying to find a balance between capturing the general interest visitor and displaying their holdings, so it is likely that if you want to pore over Constable material you should try contacting their research/preservation dept.

At the V & A website, under the Collections tab, you can search for works by John Constable. You can also do this on their interactive map. I was surprised by the extent of their collection! Those I clicked on were listed as "Request to View at the Prints and Drawings Study Room."

OP here: Thank you both for your quick and helpful responses.

Last year I was at the "Prints and Drawings Study Room" at the V&A with my son who was interested in their photography collection. While he was studying the photographs and making notes, I talked to a curator for a bit, and they showed me their catalog - they have lots more than what the website lists, including an extensive collection of Constables (I remember specifically because I want to go and look at them too, but I'm not sure how many are his cloud studies)!! So if you are interested, please email them ([email protected]) to ask. You can ask to see up to five boxes. You do have to make an appointment in advance (on Wednesdays and Thursdays only, I believe). It was definitely a very special treat to be in the Study Room, and one of my son's & my favorite experiences in London.

V&A has an amazing assortment of items, if you're going for a specific reason you really need to study beforehand (as you are doing) and then get a floor plan. But if you're willing to wander and wonder, you're in luck.

Leave enough time for the gift shop, it's world famous and rightly so.

Thank you both also for your replies. And MapLady, I particularly appreciate your including the email address, which I will follow up on promptly. (And I’ll let you know how it goes.) What an exceptional opportunity for a visitor!

I remember a good collection of Constable paintings in the National Gallery. I think they may have as many as 25 major paintings that they own, possibly 15 on view. Some are always out on loan but usually only a few. I tried searching the collection but am not getting any response at 2 am London time. Classic hour for an IT computer server refresh. Do a search and they will tell you which rooms they are displayed in.

Tate Britain is planning a major exhibition of Turner and Constable, 27 NOVEMBER 2025 – 12 APRIL 2026. I'm coming back for that one.

I don't remember much on display in the V&A. I was there in December 2022. I had a list of paintings from various artists that I wanted to see and walked through endless galleries of furniture, china and other (boring) stuff just to find the handful of paintings. It was a frustrating experience. The V&A has a world class collection of metal work also, but again, you have to walk the whole place and have a map to find it. Having seen the glorious tearooms I will probably not go back to the V&A unless they put on an exhibition of the the things I like and collect them all together. I do like drawings, etchings and watercolors but was too tired to try and find any at the V&A.

The only museum more frustrating than the V&A is the Tate Modern, which hordes good paintings but does.not.display.them.