Drawn Testimony

‘In precise, often lyrical prose, Rosenberg reflects on a career at the intersection of art and law, fact and impression, reason and emotion. As captivating and nuanced as the drawings themselves are the descriptions of her creative process…’ – Lauren Christensen * The New York Times *‘Rosenberg’s fascinating debut offers a front row seat to some of the most high-profile criminal cases of the last four decades…The results thrill without teetering into salaciousness. Readers will be hard-pressed to put this down.’ * Publisher’s Weekly *‘A revealing look at an often-overlooked aspect of the legal system… With a cast of characters including John Gotti, Woody Allen, Bernie Madoff, Mark David Chapman, Bill Cosby, Susan Smith, and Tom Brady, and with smart commentary on technique, Rosenberg delivers stories for every true-crime buff-and aspiring courtroom artist.’ * Kirkus *‘Drawn Testimony is riveting. Through the singular craft that is her life’s calling, Rosenberg gives us a front row seat to the most important courtroom trials of our generation.’ * Hope Jahren, New York Times bestselling author of Lab Girl *“An immersive and riveting reading experience. Jane Rosenberg captures moment and mood in her sketches, turning pastel impressions into whole narratives-and, along the way, slyly relating a unique forty-year cultural history of New York City.” * Judy Melinek & T.J. Mitchell, New York Times bestselling authors of Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner *‘Reading Drawn Testimony is like peering over Jane Rosenberg’s shoulder as she deftly captures telling moments from trial after trial. Against the odds, her prose keeps pace with her pastels.’ * Patrick Bringley, author of All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me *‘The book is beautifully written, and some cases are very interesting indeed. What was more interesting was how she had to fit in with other illustrators in court cases, and about the interplay between the various roles of individuals in court… [It] will enthral those who are fascinated by real crime.’ – Patricia Wiltshire

Jane Rosenberg received a BA in Art from SUNY Buffalo and trained in New York City at the Art Students League and the National Academy of Art. A courtroom sketch artist for major television networks and newspapers since 1980, her work has also appeared in collections throughout the US and abroad, including the National Constitution Center, the Museum of Television and Radio, the National September 11 Memorial Museum and the Library of Congress. In 2023, her drawing of former President Donald Trump became the first courtroom sketch to be featured on the cover of The New Yorker in the magazine’s 98-year history.