Official bust of the new Grand Duke of Luxembourg made with Artec 3D scanning

© Maison du Grand-Duc / Sophie Margue

Artec 3D is proud to announce that its industry-leading 3D scanners have been used to create the official portraits of His Royal Highness Guillaume V, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

These portraits, including oil paintings and an incredibly realistic bust, were commissioned to celebrate His Royal Highness and Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg’s accession to the throne. Making an official portrait is a centuries-old tradition and an important responsibility.

On this occasion, Serge Ecker, Andrew Gow, Louise Pragnell, and Roland Shauls were given the honor of putting together the exhibit. Created using a combination of traditional artistry and framing techniques, alongside Artec 3D’s advanced 3D scanning technology, the final portraitures brilliantly capture the occasion – and the likenesses of the royal couple.

© Maison du Grand-Duc / Sophie Margue

Launched with Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart and supported by Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies and Ministry of Culture, the exhibition is now being made open to the public. At the presentation, visitors can get to know the country’s new Head of State, while discovering a showcase of both its art and technology scenes, which have flourished in recent years.

Modern technology meets historic artistry

In order to make the exhibition’s centerpiece, a large bronze bust of the Grand Duke, sculptor Serge Ecker reached out to Luxembourg-based digitization specialist Artec 3D.

Ahead of the “Trounwiessel,” Luxembourgish for “throne change,” two Artec experts were invited to meet and scan the Grand Duke in person. After the formalities had been taken care of, His Royal Highness is said to have been the model portrait subject, staying perfectly still.

To ensure that Ecker had all the imagery he’d possibly need, two sets of scans were captured: one with the ultra-high-resolution Spider II, and another with the wireless Leo. A 3D display was used to give the Grand Duke and his courtiers real-time feedback – and minutes later, the Artec team had picked up a full head-to-toe scan with brilliant detail, including fine facial features.

© Maison du Grand-Duc / Sophie Margue

In Artec Studio, this data was later turned into a lifelike 3D model, which Ecker used as a reference for his design. Cast from bronze, the final bust not only has a stunning resemblance to the Grand Duke, it reflects a coming together of artistic techniques old & new. Now open to the public at Nationalmusée um Fëschmaart, the showcase runs until February 1, 2026.

Championing Luxembourg on the world stage

Artec 3D marks products “Made in Luxembourg” with pride and continues to work with political, business, and education leaders to advance the country’s interests at home and abroad.

To showcase Luxembourg’s heritage at the World Expo in Osaka, Artec 3D digitized many of its treasured landmarks, including the Grand Ducal Palace, Gëlle Fra, and the Hollow Tooth fort. The Luxembourg Pavillion showcased these heritage sites to visitors in-person and virtually via an event app, bringing unprecedented exposure to the country’s rich history and traditions.

Artec 3D also has a history of digitizing heads of state, having created a portrait of US President Barack Obama. Arguably, its latest collaboration is its most illustrious yet, with the bust being unveiled in front of distinguished guests, including the Grand Duke himself. Overall, the project underscores Artec 3D’s ongoing commitment to Luxembourg and the wider field of digital heritage preservation.

“Being invited to contribute to such an incredible project is an honor. We’re always happy to support Luxembourg in any way we can – and we’re delighted to have contributed to the Trounwiessel celebrations, a historic milestone for the country,” said Art Yukhin, CEO of Artec 3D. “The project is also a great demonstration of how our products can digitally capture historic moments for future generations to discover and enjoy.”

Find out more about the Grand Duke & Duchess’ official portrait exhibition here.