WILLIAM, an ingenious English artist, a native of London, was the disciple of Peak the painter, and worked with him three or four years. At the breaking out of the civil war, Peak espoused the cause of his sovereign: and Faithorn, who accompanied his master, was taken prisoner by the rebels at Baringhouse, from whence he was sent to London, and confined in Aldergate. In this uncomfortable situation he exercised his graver; and a small head of the first Villars duke of Buckingham, in the style of Melan, is reckoned among his performances at that time. The solicitations of his friends in his favour at last prevailed; and he was released from prison, with permission to retire to the continent. In France he found protection and encouragement from the Abbé de Marolles; and it was at this time that he formed an acquaintance with Nanteuil, from whose instructions he derived very considerable advantages. About the year 1650 he returned to England, and soon after married the filter of a Captain Croun. By her he had two sons; Henry, who was a bookeller, and William an engraver in mezzotinto. Faithorn opened a shop near Temple-Bar, where he sold not only his own engravings, but those of other English artists, and imported a considerable number of prints from Holland, France, and Italy. About the year 1680, he retired from his shop, and resided in Printing-House Yard; but he still continued to work for the bookellers, especially Royton, Martin, and Peak the younger, his former master's brother. He painted portraits from the life in crayons; which art he learned of Nanteuil during his abode in France. He also painted in miniature; and his performances in both these styles were much esteemed. His spirits were broken by the indifferency and dilapidation of his son William; and a lingering consumption put an end to his life in 1691. He wrote a book Upon Drawing, Graving, and Etching, for which he was celebrated by his friend Thomas Flatman the poet.