Rijksmuseum receives rare 17th-century drawing book donation

The Rijksmuseum has received the donation of the Van Eeghen Drawing Book, an exceptionally rare and intact 17th-century volume that has remained within the same family for over 300 years.

The book contains approximately 30 drawings, including a series of dramatic biblical scenes. Many of these works are now attributed to the Dutch artist Rombout Uylenburgh and his workshop. Uylenburgh, a once-celebrated artist who worked in Poland and Danzig, had largely faded from art history, making this acquisition a significant addition to the museum’s Print Room collection.

Because the volume was carefully stored and shielded from light for centuries, the colors remain remarkably vivid. Some compositions were executed on blue paper. The book’s provenance is linked to the Van Eeghen family, an influential Amsterdam merchant and banking family. The attribution to Uylenburgh was solidified following research that connected the book's drawings to existing works in the museum's collection.