Priceless paintings by Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, and other renowned artists were unharmed after a fire broke out in the roof of Somerset House, a central London arts venue. Firefighters worked diligently to douse the blaze, using buckets on ladder trucks to pour water on the flames. The complex and technical response required the use of a 205-foot ladder to reach the flames and create fire breaks in the roof to prevent further spread.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but staff and the public were safely evacuated, and artworks were not in the affected area of the fire. The fire was contained to the west wing, which mainly housed offices and back-of-house facilities rather than art pieces. The Courtauld Gallery, which showcases masterpieces like Van Gogh’s “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear,” was on the opposite side of the complex and was scheduled to reopen the following day.
Somerset House, originally built in 1547 by Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, was reconstructed nearly 250 years ago after the original structure was demolished due to neglect. The historic building once housed Queen Elizabeth I as a princess before she ascended to the throne. Despite the fire, no significant damage was done to the priceless art collection housed within Somerset House, and no injuries were reported.
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