Primary sourcePainting1632
William Shakespeare
Martin Droeshout · 1632
An engraved portrait of Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout, used in the First Folio and considered one of only two authentic likenesses of him.
This engraving is one of only two portraits accepted as an authentic likeness of Shakespeare himself.
About this source
What it is
This engraving of William Shakespeare was made by Martin Droeshout and used in the 1623 First Folio. It shows a balding man with a short beard and moustache, wearing a large lace collar and patterned doublet. A copy from the Welsh Portrait Collection is held at the National Library of Wales.
Why it matters
This portrait is one of only two images of Shakespeare generally accepted as authentic by scholars, because people who had known him vouched for it when the First Folio was published. Since no other confirmed image exists, this engraving has shaped how the world has pictured Shakespeare for centuries.
Look closer
- Why do you think so few trustworthy portraits of Shakespeare exist?
- What clues in the clothing and pose tell you about the time period?
- Why might people who knew Shakespeare have needed to vouch for this image's accuracy?
This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of William Shakespeare on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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