Exhibition 'The Grand Staircase, if walls could talk.' in Paleis Het Loo
Journey through over 300 years of history in the exhibition The Grand Staircase.
At the heart of Paleis Het Loo lies the Grand Staircase, which has seen people come and go over the centuries. Countless visitors have walked its steps, and its walls have witnessed much.
Surrounding the staircase is an extensive mural, designed by the French interior architect Daniël Marot on commission from King-Stadtholder William III between 1690 and 1694. It is the second-largest mural in the Netherlands. Over the centuries, the mural has taken on different appearances. During the reign of Louis Napoleon, the entire surface was plastered white. Around 1890, this layer was removed, and in 1902, Queen Wilhelmina had the mural restored to its original design.
Today, an old varnish layer—a transparent protective coating—is causing new problems. It is becoming increasingly difficult to remove this layer. Therefore, a restoration project will begin during the exhibition to replace this layer.
Together with the exhibition, the painting takes you on a journey from the Veluwe through Versailles to the former Ottoman Empire, now Istanbul. In a single room, you can discover more than three centuries of history of the Grand Staircase.
