Rare 17th-Century Van Eeghen Drawing Book Donated to Rijksmuseum After 300 Years
The Van Eeghen family has donated the well-preserved 17th-century Van Eeghen Drawing Book to the Rijksmuseum, where it remained within a single household for over 300 years. This book comprises approximately 30 sheets of biblical illustrations on blue paper, credited to Rombout Uylenburgh. Its cover is adorned with gold lettering that states 'Konstboeck voor Reyer Claessoon.' The process of attribution spanned several decades, with C.P. van Eeghen recognizing a similarity to a Uylenburgh drawing around 2003, which led to additional identifications by Erik Löffler in 2013. Rombout Uylenburgh (c. 1580–85 – c. 1627–28) was active in Danzig, while his brother Hendrick served as Rembrandt's dealer. The book will be on display at the Rijksmuseum beginning 19 August 2026.
Key facts
- The Van Eeghen Drawing Book, an intact 17th-century volume, was donated to the Rijksmuseum by the Van Eeghen family after more than 300 years.
- The book contains around 30 drawings, including biblical scenes attributed to Rombout Uylenburgh and his workshop.
- Its colours remain remarkably vivid due to centuries of careful storage with little light exposure.
- The binding is inscribed in gold lettering: 'Konstboeck voor Reyer Claessoon'.
- Reyer Claessoon was a merchant from Enkhuizen who settled in Danzig (now Gdańsk).
- C.P. van Eeghen noticed a similarity to a Rijksmuseum drawing, and Erik Löffler published the attribution in 2013.
- Rombout Uylenburgh was born in Leeuwarden, became a court painter in Kraków, and later settled in Danzig in 1612.
- The Rijksmuseum will exhibit the book from 19 August 2026, alongside a loan from the Rembrandt House Museum.
Entities
Artists
- Rombout Uylenburgh
- Hendrick Uylenburgh
- Saskia van Uylenburgh
- Rembrandt
- Taco Dibbits
- C.P. van Eeghen
- Erik Löffler
- King Sigismund III of Poland
- Reyer Claessoon
Institutions
- Rijksmuseum
- Netherlands Institute for Art History
- Museum Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder
- Rembrandt House Museum
Locations
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Enkhuizen
- Danzig
- Gdańsk
- Poland
- Kraków
- Leeuwarden