Priceless paintings by famous artists such as Monet, Cezanne, and Van Gogh were unharmed in a fire that broke out in the roof of Somerset House in central London. Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, which were largely contained by early evening. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The staff and the public were safe, and artworks were not in the area affected by the fire. The building, which was scheduled to host a breakdancing event, was mainly offices and back-of-house facilities. The Courtauld Gallery, located on the opposite side of the complex, featuring works by Van Gogh and Rubens, was scheduled to reopen the following day.
The historic Somerset House, rebuilt nearly 250 years ago after the original structure was demolished, has an interesting history. The original palace was built in 1547 by Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, and later lived in by Queen Elizabeth I as a princess. The building’s age and design posed a challenge to firefighters, requiring the use of a 205-foot ladder and creating fire breaks in the roof to limit the spread of flames.
Overall, the valuable artworks were safe, and the building’s history and cultural importance remain intact despite the fire.
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