The Courtauld Gallery closed temporarily this week after a man fell to his death at the London museum on Tuesday afternoon.
At approximately 3:30pm on October 3, Metropolitan Police responded to reports of a man “falling from a height” at Somerset House, where the museum is located. Police told Hyperallergic that officers and London Ambulance Service attended the man, aged in his 60s. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time, police said.
A brief statement on the institution’s website noted the museum’s closure following a “tragic event” that resulted in a fatality. “Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased,” the statement says.
The museum will reopen to the public on Friday, October 6, and visitors who had tickets to visit the galleries before the announced closure can rebook at no cost. An event scheduled for Wednesday evening at Somerset House was also canceled.
Part of the Courtauld Institute of Art, the museum is located on the Strand thoroughfare in the Neoclassical complex known as the Somerset House in central London. The institution houses a collection of over 33,000 objects with a special focus on the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist periods, including art historically renowned works such as Édouard Manet’s last major painting, “A Bar at the Folies-Bergère” (1882). The museum is currently hosting an exhibition of works by artist and Black British Arts Movement founding member Claudette Johnson, on view through January 14.
This is a developing story. Hyperallergic has reached out to the Courtauld Gallery for additional information.
Editor’s note 10/5/23 10am EST: This article has been updated with a statement from Metropolitan Police.
