DROESHOUT, MARTIN, engraver, born in 1601 and bap tized in London on April 26, 16o1, was son of Michiel Droeshout and probably the pupil of his father and elder brother John, both engravers. Martin's title to fame is his engraved portrait of Wil liam Shakespeare (signed Martin Droeshout sculpsit), which appeared in the precious first folio edition of Shakespeare's plays printed in London in 1623. The engraver was only 15 years old at the time of Shakespeare's death and the portrait was therefore not done from life. (See SHAKESPEARE PORTRAITS.) Martin Droeshout's later work is superior to this portrait. We may men tion his portraits of John Howson, Bishop of Durham, and of John Donne. He also illustrated Captain John Smith's "True Travels" (1630).
See S. Colvin, Early Engravings in England, 1Q05; A. M. Hind, List of the Works of Line-Engravings in England (19o5) ; Cat. of Engr. Brit. Portraits in the British Museum.