Introducing Jane Rosenberg: The Courtroom Sketch Artist
For four decades, Jane Rosenberg has captured some of the most infamous moments in American legal history with her trusty pastels. Her book, Drawn Testimony, offers a mesmerizing look into the rare profession of courtroom sketch artistry. In an era dominated by court TV and paparazzi, Rosenberg’s artistic renditions continue to provide a unique and humanizing perspective on high-profile trials.
Unforgettable Moments in Legal History
Rosenberg was there when Susan Smith apologized to her estranged husband for drowning their two young sons, and when Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found guilty of the Boston Marathon bombing carnage. Her keen eye also caught Donald Trump’s arraignment in Manhattan, where she uniquely captured his complex complexion with “base layers of red, purple, even green and blue, softened and smoothed over with lighter pinks and whites, accented with strokes of burnt sienna.”
The Craft of Courtroom Sketching
Despite the proliferation of media in courts, Rosenberg’s images are broadcast by news outlets around the world. From Woody Allen and Mia Farrow’s custody battle to Harvey Weinstein listening to victim impact statements, her sketches offer a visceral glimpse into pivotal moments. Ghislaine Maxwell, Bill Cosby, Tom Brady—Rosenberg has sketched them all, even enduring a media storm over her viral yet controversial sketch of Brady.
An In-Depth Look at Technique and Experience
In Drawn Testimony, Rosenberg details the techniques honed over years of high-profile cases. She describes how she quickly builds sketches to capture singular court moments, all while the proceedings unfold. Her writing is as powerful as her drawings, providing a rare, in-person witness account of the most vulnerable moments of countless famous and powerful individuals. The book is an absorbing read that captures “the rhythms of a criminal trial and the layers of humanity they could contain.”
