For several weeks, a bustling crowd gathered outside a federal courthouse in Manhattan during Sean “Diddy” Combs’ highly publicized sex crimes trial. However, Jane Rosenberg’s reason for being there was different. As one of three courtroom sketch artists, she captured the trial proceedings as cameras were not permitted.
With her sketch pad in hand, Rosenberg provided one of the few visual representations of Combs, who recently faced mixed outcomes in his trial. He was found not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges but was convicted on lesser charges related to prostitution. Sentencing for these charges will occur at a later date.
Having spent 45 years in the field, Rosenberg has been involved in many high-profile trials in New York and beyond. She has documented notable figures such as John Gotti, President Donald Trump, and Bill Cosby.
The trial of Derek Chauvin offered unique challenges for Rosenberg, as it took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, restricting courtroom access. For that trial, she relied on a live feed to create her sketches. Notably, she also sketched at Combs’ previous trial in 2001, where he was acquitted of charges related to a nightclub shooting.
Rosenberg shared that after her first trial for Combs, one of his lawyers, Johnnie Cochran, contacted her to purchase her sketches. However, due to scheduling conflicts, they never met.
Throughout her career, she has faced feedback from the subjects of her drawings, including Diddy. She recounted how figures like Giuliani and Trump have critiqued her work, with Trump remarking that he needed to lose weight after viewing one of her pieces.
Recently, during a break in the Combs trial, he returned to the courtroom and asked her to make him appear “softer,” playfully noting that she made him look like a koala bear. His mother, Janice Combs, was also present, and they shared a laugh about the comment.
Rosenberg has encountered both support and backlash throughout her years as an artist. For example, her drawing of Tom Brady during the “Deflategate” controversy drew intense criticism, leading to threats. She admitted she wasn’t familiar with Brady at that time and received numerous emails commenting on her work.
Drawing celebrities is complex, she explained, as people have strong opinions about their appearances. Rosenberg mentioned she had to adjust her technique to capture Combs’ distinctive features.
“He has a unique look and doesn’t resemble what he used to,” she noted, reflecting on the challenges of illustrating his likeness.
