Dialogue by Mark:

Wayman Adams grew up on a farm in Indiana. His dad raised draft horses, huge animals used to pull heavy wagons and do work in the days before tractors and trucks. Adams drew and learned how to paint even before he was a teenager. He won prizes at fairs and competitions. He loved to paint animals, and his first masterpiece was a portrait of a cow, Gypsy Girl III.

Adams decided to be a professional artist, and moved to Indianapolis, the biggest city in Indiana. He went to classes at art school during the day and worked at an all-night restaurant to earn money. Soon he began to get commissions. People hired him to paint portraits. He set up a studio in downtown Indianapolis and soon earned a reputation as one of the best portrait painters in America.

"The Art Jury" was painted during Adams' Indianapolis days. The men were known as "The Big Four," and were noted for the development of art in Indiana in their time. Adams painted their portrait as if they are judging an art show. We don't see the painting they're looking at...only the serious expressions of the four art critics as they try to decide what they think of the artwork. I wonder if Adams painted the picture as a suprise, then entered it into an art show so the four critics would find themselves standing and looking at...themselves!

Wayman Adams eventually moved to New York City, and painted portraits of many people...from US presidents and celebrities, to Mexican peasants and poor farmers from his travels around the world.