SIXTEEN ORIGINAL WATERCOLOR COURTROOM SKETCHES BY ARTIST JIM ROBE DURING HIS TIME AS A SKETCH ARTIST IN TAMPA, FLORIDA.
1979-1991. The sixteen drawings cover a variety of criminal trials in Federal Court in Tampa. Most are matted, varying in size, most 14 x 22 in., or slightly smaller, two 8 x 10 in., and signed by the artist. The subjects usually identified in a caption note or attached card. All the sketches are very good, bright.
The trials include: 1) Judge Carr's courtroom, Federal Court, Tampa, 1979; 2) Jimmy James in Court, 4/27/79, shot by his wife Patricia. He died two months after her trial; 3) Patti James murder [a second scene, also depicting her invalid husband]; 4) John Paul Franklin, 1980. Sniper serial killer captured by the FBI in Lakeland and arraigned in Federal Court, Tampa; 5) East German Spy caught in Clearwater, 6/29/84, received 15 years; 6) Detroit Tigers former pitcher Denny McLain, tried in 1985 for extortion; 7) Defendant Mero and Defense Attorney Regano, 4/15/85, a drug trial; 8) The Jury, 7/30/85, in Attorney Mero's drug trial; 9) Ex-County Commissioner Corruption Trial, Jerry Bowmer (The Mouth) Pleaded Guilty, 5/20/86 [subjects in the sketch identified by name on verso]; 10) Courtroom Scene, including Jury, 1986 [trial not identified]; 11) Courtroom Scene, Judge Carr, 7/1/86 [trial not identified]; 12) Carlos Lehder of Columbia, South America, captured there in February 1987, and indicted in Tampa for worldwide drug smuggling; 13) F. Lee Bailey, July 6, 1987; 14) F. Lee Bailey in Action, 1/9/89 [other subjects in the sketch identified in pencil along top margin]; 15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Field Goal Kicker [Donald Amechi Igwebuike, "Iggy"] trial on charges of smuggling heroin, 4/12/91; 16) [same trial] Found "Innocent on all Counts," 4/15/91. Item #62803
The artist Jim Robe worked for the Tampa Tribune-Times, WFLA-TV, NBC, and CBS during his career. His sketches appeared in newspapers and on national TV networks. In an interview for the Orlando Sentinel in June 1987, Robe said he preferred to work in watercolor because he could cover larger areas faster, and could "get more detail into a scene." Robe also noted that F. Lee Bailey had "a certain flair," and was one of the most flamboyant lawyers he witnessed.
The note Robe attached to his sketch of the drug kingpin Carlos Lehder stated that he had to work quickly, as security around him was very tight and the number of people at the trial severely limited: "The media was unable to photograph or video tape him because of super-tight security, however I was able to sketch him in Federal Court. These sketches appeared in newspapers and national TV networks. Since his capture no photos have been taken of him."
Robe's sketches of some of the infamous criminal cases tried in Tampa in the 1970s and 1980s are well rendered, dramatically drawn and brightly colored.
Price: $1,650.00