Portrait Pavilion

The Portrait Pavilion in the ballroom of the ancient Duivenvoorde Castle is the centerpiece of the celebration of the museums’ 50th anniversary. The interior of ballroom, dating back to 1717, has a unique Louis XIV style and is attributed to court architect Daniel Marot. The rich woodwork contains life-sized portraits of the successive generations who lived at the castle. In addition, the museum has a collection of 131 (family) portraits on display spread across the different halls and rooms of the castle.

The pavilion assembles the entire collection of portraits in one place, forming the basis of the exhibition. All portraits are scanned, reproduced in black and white and suspended on the bright-lit walls inside the pavilion. Several artists are invited to bring a personal portrait, adding a contemporary layer to the exhibition. The life-sized portraits function as a historical backdrop.

The hexagonal shape of the pavilion is an extrusion of the central pattern in the existing balloom carpet. The exterior of the pavilion is clad with acrylic sheets with a mirroring surface. Because of the reflections, the interior of the baroque room is duplicated and becomes an even more excessive space whereby the pavilion, ballroom, visitor and portraits visually merge into one complex image.