London’s Courtauld Gallery closed unexpectedly today, October 4, following a “tragic event” that resulted in a fatality at the museum yesterday afternoon.
A brief statement on the institution’s website clarifies that “police are not investigating the death as suspicious” and provides no further details. “Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased,” the statement says.
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.
An event scheduled for this evening at Somerset House was also canceled. 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.
This is a developing story. Hyperallergic has reached out to the Courtauld Gallery and the City of London Police for additional information.