Martin Droeshout
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Martin Droeshout [ ˈdruːʃaʊt ], also Drossaert or Drussoit, (* approx. April 1601 in London ; † approx. 1650 ) was an English engraver or engraver , whose fame today is mainly based on the fact that he was the title portrait of William Shakespeare's collected works, the Folio edition from 1623.
Droeshout probably learned his trade from his father Michael Droeshout and his older brother John, both also engravers. The Shakespeare portrait was praised by Ben Jonson and described as "true to life" . Since Martin Droeshout was only 15 years old at the time of Shakespeare's death (1616), it is assumed that he no longer met Shakespeare personally, so that the picture was probably made from an older portrait.
In addition to portraits (for example those of John Foxe , John Howson or George Villiers , the first Duke of Buckingham) Droeshout also made engravings of an allegorical , mythical and satirical kind.
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| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Droeshout, Martin |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Drossaert, Martin; Drussoit, Martin |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | English engraver or engraver |
| DATE OF BIRTH | around April 1601 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | London |
| DATE OF DEATH | around 1650 |