A copy of the painting, now located in Schloss Charlottenburg, was made by Gedeon Romandon (1667-1697) (oil on canvas, 56 x 43 cm, Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg). Romandon was the courtpainter of the Great Elector and his son Elector Friedrich III (later Friedrich I von Preußen (1657-1713)) and subsequently from 1687-1697 of the Prussian court. The present self- portrait must have been at least from 1697 in the collection of Friedrich I von Preußen, but it is possible it was already in the collection of the Great Elector (1620-1688).

In 1736 Friedrich Wilhelm I von Preußen (1688-1740) made a copy after the self-portrait (oil on canvas, 82.5 x 65.5 cm, Schloss Königs Wusterhausen, Stiftung Preussische Schlösser und Gärten Berlin-Brandenburg (Klepper 1938, p. 16; Potsdam 1990, p. 45). The paintings which Friedrich Wilhelm I von Preußen copied where usually part of his collection. He signed these copies with the inscription "F.W.R. in tormentis pinxit [year]" (Nicolai 1769, S. 367). Most probably the self-portrait was part of his collection which was located in the Berliner Stadtschloss.

In 1790 the painting is recorded in the catalogue of the picture gallery of the Königlichen Schloß Berlin: "REMBRANDT. Sein eigenes Portrait (Puhlmann 1790, no. 19) and in 1794 by Rumpf: "Die Gemäldegallerie: Rembrandts Bildnis, von ihm selbst. Eines der schönsten von den vielen dieser Art; mit glühenden, kräftigen Schatten und wahren Lokaltinten" (Rumpf 1794, p. 88).

Around 1829 the painting is mentioned in the list of the paintings located in the picture gallery (and adjoining rooms) of the Berliner Schloßand recorded under no. 58: "Paul Rembrandt, Des Künstlers eigenes Bildniß" (Vogtherr 2005, p. 82; here confused with the other Berlin self-portrait cat. no. 808) and recorded in "Verzeichnis derjenigen Gemälde, welche von der Commission zur Einrichtung des Königl. Museums aus den Königl. Schlössern zu Berlin und Charlottenburg, als für das Museum geeignet, ausgewählt worden sind" as: "Berliner Schloss, Bilder Gallerie: 66. Rembrandt, Eigenes Portrait, Holz 1634 [in Bleistift dahinter]" (undated document, Zentralarchiv, SMB-ZA, I/GG 363).

1830 - In the inventory of 1833 the self-portrait is recorded under inv. no. I.902 as: "Rembrandt van Rijn. – Mit dem Namen und 1634 bez. - Selbstbildniss. – h. 0,57, br. 0,47 – Eichen=Holz – Königliche Schlösser. – Im Ganzen gut erhalten". In 1904 the painting was transferred to the Kaiser Friedrich Museum (at present Bodemuseum). In the period from September 1941 – September 1942 the painting, together with other works of art of the Gemäldegalerie, was located in the flak towers of Leitturm Berlin-Friedrichshain. From 11 March - 7 April 1945 the paintings were transported from Berlin to the salt mines of Kaiseroda-Merkers, where the works of art were stored until they were discovered and confiscated by the Americans. On 17 April 1945 they moved the works of art, including the painting, to the Reichsbank in Frankfurt am Main. From 20 August-31 August 1945 the works of art were removed from the Reichsbank and temporary stored in the Central Art Collecting Point Wiesbaden, located in Landesmuseum Wiesbaden (inventory number WIE 0/13). The self portrait , together with more than 200 other works of art of the Gemäldegalerie, moved from 20 November until 7 December 1945 to The National Gallery in Washington (Box no. 34, (17) (21); image no. 158 (Farmer 2002, p. 189); see also the pink-coloured file card on the back of the painting). Most probably the painting was transported back to Wiesbaden in April 1949. On 20 April 1949 the American trusteeship was handed over to the state Hessen. On 11 January 1956 the works of art of the Berlin Gemäldegalerie officially came within the escrow of Berlin and the return of the works of art from Wiesbaden to Berlin began. The collection of paintings was located in the Gemäldegalerie in Dahlem (Berlin West) until 1998.

From 1998 onwards the collection of old master paintings of the Staatliche Museen is located in the Gemäldegalerie at the Kulturforum.