Dutch seventeenth-century painting specialist; first extraordinarius professor of Art History at Leiden University; Museum Director. Martin grew up in Leiden where his father was professor at the city's university. Attending the University himself, Martin studied Dutch language and literature between 1894 and 1899. He had a special interest in Dutch seventeenth- century painting. He obtained a doctorate in 1901, writing on on the painter Gerard Dou, the Baroque Leiden artist: Het leven en de werken van Gerrit Dou beschouwd in verband met het schildersleven van zijn tijd.