Bedroom with Saskia in a Canopy Bed

Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1638

Rembrandt’s wife, Saskia, sits upright in a canopy bed with heavy curtains. She looks pallid and is probably pregnant, given the nursing couch on the ground. These were usually made of wicker and had a cushion against which the woman could lean when nursing a baby. Saskia is probably pregnant with their first daughter, Cornelia, who lived only three weeks from July 1638.

  • Artwork typedrawing
  • Object numberRP-T-1930-53
  • Dimensionsheight 177 mm x width 241 mm
  • Physical characteristicspen and brown ink, with brown wash and opaque white, on paper toned with a light brown wash; framing line in brown ink