EGN NEWS DESK
LONDON — Priceless work by Monet, Cézanne, Van Gogh and others have been secure after firefighters labored to douse a hearth Saturday at Somerset House, a big central London arts venue.
Heavy smoke and flames seen coming from the roof round midday had been knocked down by firefighters who poured water on it from buckets on ladder vans. It appeared from video footage that the hearth had left holes within the roof of the constructing situated subsequent to the River Thames.
The reason for the hearth was not but recognized, the London Fire Brigade stated.
Staff and the general public have been secure and artworks weren’t within the space of the hearth, a Somerset House official stated.
“A hearth was noticed at about noon in a single nook of the west wing, the location was instantly evacuated and the London Fire Brigade referred to as, who arrived in a short time,” Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, stated. “The west wing is principally workplaces and back-of-house amenities, there aren’t any artworks in that space.”
The venue had been scheduled to host a breakdancing occasion to rejoice the game’s debut on the Paris Olympics that was canceled.
The fireplace was on the alternative facet of the massive advanced from The Courtauld Gallery that options works similar to Vincent Van Gogh’s “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear” and “The Descent From The Cross” by Peter Paul Rubens.
The neoclassical constructing was reconstructed practically 250 years in the past after the unique Somerset House was demolished after turning into uncared for.
The unique palace was in-built 1547 by Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, who was later executed on the Tower of London.
Queen Elizabeth I lived within the palace as a princess for 5 years earlier than ascending to the throne.
