The copperplate was not part of any of the major collections and is probably not in existence anymore.

Coppenol (1598- after 1667) was initially headmaster at the French school in Amsterdam. He later ran a school at the Singel and was an important calligrapher, who travelled through the country to show his art. The portrait was probably commissioned by Coppenol himself, since he had done so before with other artists and even sculptors (Quellinus). The date has been assumed by Wijnman based on the age of the boy, who supposedly is Coppenol’s grandson Antonius and described in a contemporary text by Waterloos.

There is a drawing (Benesch 766, Szepmuveszeti Museum in Budapest) which shows some similarity, but is not in reverse.

NH lists three copies of which two in the same direction. Copy A is probably by Hertel. It is listed in WB, with a question mark after the name. There are three ‘Hertel’s  that made copies of Rembrandt’s etchings. It is not traced by NH. An impresssion included in the collection ‘Rembrandt in Black & White’, number 358 (228 x 177 mm, WB 2) could well be the copy mentioned. It is slightly larger (5 mm in both height and width) then the measurements listed.
Copy B is by Pierre-Francois Basan in the Recueil de Basan (266 x 184 mm, WB 1).
There is one copy in reverse (C) by Francesco Novelli (1792, his nr 3, 259 x 213 mm, WB 3).

The etching is considered as special by Rovinsky.

NH lists seven states, the final three not by Rembrandt. All other authors list six states.
In the 1st state (NH, WB, R755-756, NU) a circular disc is visible on the wall. Coppenol’s left hand and the quill are completely white.
In the 2nd state (NH, WB, R757, NU) Coppenol’s hand is shaded. A square and a pair of compasses have been added to the wall.
In the 3rd state (NH, WB, R758, NU) fine vertical shading is added to the forehead of Coppenol and to the child’s face.
In the 4th state (NH, WB, R759, NU) a large triptych with a Crucifixion are added to the wall, replacing the disc.
In the 5th state (NH, WB, R761, NU) the triptych is almost wiped out again.
In the 6th state (NH, WB final, R762, NU) the 2nd state is imitated by replacing the disc, but traces of the triptych are still visible. With considerable rework.
In the 7th state (NH only) the entire plate is reworked with a mezzotint rocker, mainly visible in the head of the boy. The background to the left of the head is reworked.

Almost all impressions of the 1st and 2nd state (13 in total) are on Japanese or Chinese paper or on vellum.

In the 6th state: Seven Provinces; Strasbourg lily; Words (> 1698);

H 269, BB 58-1, G 262, M 162, Mz 80, RA 755-762, Cl 279, W 284, Bl 174, Du 257, CD 226, S 128.
Hinterding 2008, p. 511-514;