Saskia van Uylenburgh, the Wife of the Artist
Rembrandt van Rijn·probably begun 1634/1635 and completed 1638/1640
Historical Context
Rembrandt's Saskia van Uylenburgh (probably begun 1634–35, completed 1638–40) at the National Gallery of Art depicts his first wife, who died in 1642 aged twenty-nine. The extended period of the painting's execution — potentially spanning six years — may reflect the complexity of a portrait that began as a commissioned likeness and ended as a memorial, Saskia's early death transforming a straightforward portrait into something more weighted with personal meaning. Rembrandt's deep personal connection to Saskia — his love for her was genuine and her death left him devastated — gives this portrait a quality of intense personal feeling that distinguishes it from his commissioned work.
Technical Analysis
The portrait shows Rembrandt's careful, relatively smooth early style on panel. The warm, luminous flesh tones and the attentive rendering of Saskia's costume and jewelry reflect both artistic skill and personal devotion.
Provenance
Bourchier Cleeve [d. 1760], Foots Cray Place, Kent; by inheritance to his daughter, Elizabeth; by marriage 1765 to her husband, Sir George Yonge, Bart., London; (his sale, at his residence by Mr. White, London, 24-25 March 1806, 2nd day, no. 79); Foster. William Wells [1760-1847], Redleaf, near Penshurst, Kent, by 1831;[1] by inheritance to his grandnephew, William Wells [1818-1889], Redleaf; (his granduncle's estate sale, Christie & Manson, London, 12-13 May 1848, no. 67, probably bought in for or by Wells); (his estate sale, Christie, Manson & Woods, London, 10 and 12 May 1890, no. 93); (P. & D. Colnaghi & Co., London); Henry Bingham Mildmay [1828-1905], Shoreham Place, Kent, and Flete House, Devon; (his sale, Christie, Manson & Woods, London, 24 June 1893, no. 58); (Wertheimer, London). (Charles Sedelmeyer, Paris); sold 30 July 1894 to Peter A.B. Widener, Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; inheritance from Estate of Peter A.B. Widener by gift through power of appointment of Joseph E. Widener, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; gift 1942 to NGA. [1] Wells lent the painting to an 1831 exhibition at the British Institution.
