Somerset House fire: Relief as art gallery reopens

Somerset House fire: Relief as art gallery reopens

PA MediaNo artwork was damaged in the fire at Somerset House

The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened to the public after a fire in the building, although the rest of the landmark remains closed “until further notice”.

Around 125 firefighters tackled the blaze that broke out at midday on Saturday as smoke billowed over central London.

The fire was in an area of the building that housed no valuable art. No injuries were reported and the cause is still under investigation.

The day after the blaze, multiple fire engines were parked outside. The undamaged art gallery seemed as normal, with visitors queuing up before the doors opened at 10:00 BST and milling around inside.

EPA

Visitors Paul Clark, his wife Jiorgia, and their four children had come from Washington state on holiday. The family saw firefighters battling the blaze while they were on the London Eye on Saturday.

“It was sad to see,” Mr Clark told BBC. He said they were worried the artwork had been damaged, but were “very relieved” it was all safe.

Mr Clark said he is a huge fan of Vincent Van Gogh – the gallery houses the painter’s famed Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear.

The fire broke out in the west wing of the building, which is mostly used for offices and storage.

The director of Somerset House Trust, Jonathan Reekie, said there were “no valuable artefacts or artworks” in that part of the building.

The Courtauld Gallery is an art museum that houses the collection of the Samuel Courtauld Trust, including masterpieces ranging from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The gallery also features works by impressionists Edouard Manet, Claude Monet and Paul Cezanne.