Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol (born about 1599, died 1671 or later)

Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol (born about 1599, died 1671 or later) by Rembrandt (Rembrandt van Rijn) is an important seventeenth-century Dutch oil painting, executed on an oak panel. This refined portrait captures one of Rembrandt’s most frequently depicted subjects, the accomplished writing master Lieven van Coppenol, who was renowned in Amsterdam for his masterful calligraphy. The period of execution spans 1626 to 1669, reflecting the long and varied career of the artist and the possibility that this specific painting may relate to preparatory sketches or studies leading up to Rembrandt’s famous etched portraits of Coppenol.

The painting is a powerful study of character, utilizing the precise rendering typical of the Dutch Golden Age. While known for his dramatic use of tenebrism and psychological depth in his later years, Rembrandt’s technical approach here focuses on capturing the intellectual demeanor of the sitter. Many of Rembrandt's portraits, including the various studies related to Lieven Willemsz van Coppenol, remain highly significant historical documents of the era.

This specific portrait is classified as a painting, distinguishing it from the numerous prints Rembrandt created of the same subject. The work currently resides within the esteemed collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a prime example of the master’s early to mature period. As a work in the public domain, high-quality images and related studies are frequently consulted by scholars studying the evolution of Dutch portraiture and Rembrandt's sustained interest in specific models.