Uylenburgh

Uylenburgh is a Dutch surname associated with a Frisian-origin family that played a prominent role in Amsterdam’s art market during the Dutch Golden Age. The name appears in several spellings, including Uylenburgh and van Uylenburgh, and is tied to a toponymic lineage from the region around Uylenburg in Friesland.

The most notable figure in the Uylenburgh family is Gerrit van Uylenburgh (c. 1587–1660), a Dutch art dealer who ran a major gallery in Amsterdam. His firm acted as an intermediary for both Old Masters and contemporary painters, helping to connect artists with patrons and collections. Through his activities, the Uylenburgh network became an important channel for the dissemination of Dutch and international art in the city.

A well-known member of the family is Saskia van Uylenburgh, who became the wife of Rembrandt van Rijn. Her connection to the Uylenburgh family linked Rembrandt to the Amsterdam art trade and to the social circles surrounding the gallery, contributing to his early career and patronage opportunities.

After Gerrit van Uylenburgh’s death, the business passed to his heirs and continued to operate in various forms, maintaining the family’s presence within Amsterdam’s art market. The Uylenburgh name remains a historical marker of the Dutch Golden Age’s commercial and cultural landscape, illustrating how familial networks helped shape art patronage and distribution in 17th-century Holland.