Who painted Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist?

Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist was painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in probably begun 1634/1635 and completed 1638/1640.

Where can I see Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist?

Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist?

Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist?

Museum-quality prints of Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist

Rembrandt van Rijn , 1634

Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Rembrandt van Rijn. It dates from 1634 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created in 1634, the work is recorded as a portrait that foregrounds the marital bond, a meaning reinforced by its explicit title.

The painting shows Saskia van Uylenburgh, the wife of Rembrandt van Rijn, as the central figure.

Created in 1634, the work is recorded as a portrait that foregrounds the marital bond, a meaning reinforced by its explicit title.

Contemporary scholarship classifies the piece as a tronie, a type of character study, which suggests the image operates more as an exploration of presence than a strict likeness, adding a layer of symbolic inquiry into identity.

History & Provenance

Painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1634 as an oil on panel portrait of Saskia van Uylenburgh, the work entered the record with Bourchier Cleeve (d. 1760) of Foots Cray Place, Kent, passing to his daughter Elizabeth and then, by her 1765 marriage, to Sir George Yonge, Bart. It was sold at Yonge's London residence in March 1806, acquired by Foster, and by 1831 belonged to William Wells of Redleaf, who lent it to the British Institution that year. After Wells's death the painting descended to his grandnephew, also William Wells, appearing in the 1848 and 1890 Christie's sales before passing through P. & D. Colnaghi, Henry Bingham Mildmay, Wertheimer and Charles Sedelmeyer.

Sedelmeyer sold it on 30 July 1894 to Peter A. B. Widener; it remained in the Widener family and was given to the National Gallery of Art in 1942.

Overview

Rembrandt van Rijn created this oil portrait, titled Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist, around 1634. Executed on a wooden panel, the painting depicts the artist's wife, Saskia van Uylenburgh, during the early years of their marriage. This work is one of several portraits Rembrandt made of Saskia, offering a glimpse into their personal life and his artistic practice during a prolific period.

Technique & Style

Rembrandt employs a dramatic use of light and shadow in this portrait, illuminating Saskia's face and white collar while keeping the background in deep darkness. This strong contrast draws the viewer's attention directly to her features. The artist also applied paint thickly in certain areas, particularly on her hat and collar, creating a palpable texture that adds depth and presence to the depicted forms.