Somerset House

This magnificent 18th century building houses the celebrated collections of the Courtauld Institute of Art, Gilbert Collection and Hermitage Rooms.

Staircase in Somerset House

We visited the Hermitage Room and the silver collection.

The silver gallery presents a range and styles of European silver from the Renaissance to the Victorian era. The collection focuses on fine craftsmanship and is much richer in ornamental objects than in utilitarian wares.

Our priest was inspired by Rembrandt's "Return of the Prodigal Son", which he saw at the Hermitage in St. Petersberg, USSR. He mentioned this in a sermon about a month ago.The Somerset House has a Hermitage Room where paintings borrowed from Russia are displayed.