An Artist's Process

The Ribault's Landing mural can inspire enthusiastic art discussion for the artist's use of color, composition, contrasting depictions of the French and Timucuans, and historical representations.
However, the mystique of the mural isn't contained to the artwork itself. The complex and epic history from creation to its current form is a journey into art history exemplifying how a piece's perceived value can change drastically over time. 

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Now proudly displayed on the 4th floor of the Main Public Library in downtown Jacksonville, FL; the 31-foot Ribault's Landing mural was not always so celebrated. Painted in 1959 by Lee Adams for the Sears Roebuck and Co. restaurant in the new Sears department store on Bay St., the mural was a staple in the space until it closed in 1981. The mural was then donated to Lee High School where it was reported to end up tucked in the basement. 

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While it creased and faded, and was jostled by humans and creatures alike, that basement was fortunately not the end of this mural's story. The Florida Times-Union reported that City Council president Jim Overton remembered the mural from the Sears restaurant and advocated for its retrieval and renovation. In 1999, $10,000 was delegated for its restoration by Jacksonville artist Jim Draper. After a short feature at the LaVilla School of the Arts, it was moved to its current home at the library.  

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This fascinating chapter in the mural's life is now joined by a new chapter - an origin story. For the mural's unveiling at the library in 2012, Lee Adam's daughter, Camille, donated a process sketch by the artist. Soft, loose lines suggested the figures and composition with penciled notes along the parameter. A decade later, Camille would donate Lee Adams's personal photo slides changing our understanding of the artist's process entirely. 

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The Mandarin Museum has processed 952 photo slides that Lee Adams took and the family held onto depicting family trips, and homes, often featuring his wife Mimi, animals, his finished art, and thrillingly reference photos. Camille graciously wrote notes about each box of slides offering additional context. Depicted in this gallery are just some of the amazing incites to his process regarding the Ribault's Landing mural.  ​​

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The mural depicts the 1562 meeting of French Huguenots led by Jean Ribault and the Timucuans at St. Johns Bluff. To prepare, Adams took many reference photos including photographs of book pages depicting the Le Moyne-De Bry Engravings. Print of these engravings can now be found at the Jacksonville Public Library in the special collections department only steps away from the Ribualt's Landing mural. Studying historical military uniforms and depictions of the Timucuans, Adams captured the humanity of each person featured. Digital reverse image searching is implemented to speculate the exact books he would have used. He brought these references back to the studio where the canvas wrapped around the room, too big to fit on one wall. 

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To bring the characters' personalities to life, Adams used a tool implemented by artists throughout antiquity; he painted the likenesses of friends and family members into the faces of the characters.  Camille writes this about the photo slides showing details of each character in the mural, 

​Minerva Mason was one Indian maiden

And many friends posed, including Pat Williams and Jeff Hartzer's father (husband Tody)​​​​

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We also now have photos of a diorama Camille claims Lee Adams created a miniature diorama as a light study for the mural. The detailed figures emulate the poses, baskets, and weapons held by each person. The diorama alone is an art piece and gives us a glimpse of Adam's meticulous approach to his craft. 

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​Finally, we have pictures of his life studies - the turkeys, ducks, trees, and plants he used to bring the natural beauty of St. Johns to life. Taking many photographs with subtle changes in orientation helps to capture the form, patterns, volume, colors, and contrasts of each natural element that balances Lee's artistic and scientific sides. 

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The more we learn about Lee Adams' process, the more tangible he feels. To celebrate a local Mandarin artist is to celebrate our history in its many facets and iterations. Lee Admas combined local legend, historical engravings, prints, references, natural plants and animals, his family, and his community in an amalgamation that is more than an extra-large oil painting. It's a moment and a legacy that asks you to pause and think about our past, our present, and our future. ​​​​