DROESHOUT, MARTIN

born , c. April 1601, London, Eng. died c. 1650 English engraver, primarily remembered for his engraved portrait of William Shakespeare, which appeared in the First Folio edition of Shakespeare's plays (1623). Droeshout was probably the pupil of his father, Michael, and of his elder brother John, both engravers. The Shakespeare engraving was eulogized by Ben Jonson and called true to life. Since the engraver was only 15 years old at the time of Shakespeare's death, the portrait was probably not done from life. In addition to portraiture, Droeshout engraved allegorical, mythological, and satiric subjects.