Priceless paintings by artists such as Monet, Cezanne, and Van Gogh were unharmed after a blaze broke out in the roof of Somerset House in London. Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, which were visible from the top of the historic building. The complex response involved using a 205-foot ladder and creating fire breaks in the roof to contain the spread of the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Fortunately, staff and the public were safe, and no artworks were in the area affected by the fire. Somerset House Trust’s director confirmed that the fire was limited to the west wing, which mainly housed offices and back-of-house facilities. The building, which was due to host a breakdancing event, is situated next to the River Thames.
The Courtauld Gallery, featuring famous works by artists such as Van Gogh and Rubens, was located on the opposite side of the complex from where the fire occurred. The gallery was scheduled to reopen the following day. Somerset House was reconstructed nearly 250 years ago after the original structure was demolished. The original palace was built in 1547 and had historical significance, with Queen Elizabeth I residing there before becoming queen.
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