Description:

William Goadby Lawrence (American, 1913-2002). Oil on canvas painting titled "He Breaks - Leaping White Marlin." Signed along the lower right. Depicting one of Lawrence's signature marine motifs, the leaping White Marlin fish, a subject he returned to often throughout his career. Labels from Quester Gallery and The Sporting Gallery and Bookshop Inc., New York affixed the verso. Exhibition label affixed to the verso.

Exhibition: The Sporting Gallery & Bookshop Inc, NY, "Oil Painting of Big Game Fishing by W. Goadby Lawrence," January 8-23, 1937.

Lot Essay:
William Goadby Lawrence was one of America's foremost marine artists of the 20th century, renowned for his dynamic depictions of saltwater game fish, maritime scenes, and vivid portrayals of aquatic life. Born in Rumson, New Jersey, on August 17, 1913, he showed early artistic talent, studying at the Art Students League in New York and holding his first solo show at age 21 at Abercrombie & Fitch in New York City. His career was marked not only by technical excellence but also by a deep personal connection to the sea.

During World War II, Lawrence served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a Combat Artist and Chief Boatswain's Mate, participating in major battles including North Africa, Sicily, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. For his bravery aboard the U.S.S. Samuel Chase, he was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry and Intrepidity in Action. After the war, he built a distinguished career as both a fine artist and illustrator, contributing to prominent magazines such as Field and Stream and The Saturday Evening Post, which featured his painting of a marlin on the cover in February 1942.

His realistic and classically styled portraits of game fish, salmon, and trout earned him widespread acclaim and exhibitions at galleries such as the Kennedy Gallery, the Sporting Gallery, and the Harlow Gallery. He was also a published artist in noted fishing books and an avid angler himself, even representing the U.S. on the national Tuna Fishing Team.

Lawrence's work is preserved in prestigious collections including the Library of Congress, the Museum of Natural History, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Museums. Celebrated for his technical mastery and deep passion for marine life, William Goadby Lawrence remains a towering figure in American sporting and marine art.

  • Dimensions: Unframed; height: 20 in x width: 24 in. Framed; height: 24 in x width: 28 1/2 in x depth: 2 in.
  • Condition: Please email us at [email protected] for a condition report or additional photos.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Removal
Property purchased from Revere Auctions by a successful bidder will not be released to such bidder until the full payment of the total purchase price (including the buyer's premium and online bidding service fee, and all applicable sales taxes) has been made. In addition to other remedies available to us by law, we reserve the right to impose from the date of sale a late charge of 1.5% per month of the total purchase price if payment is not made in accordance with these conditions. Please note that Revere Auctions reserves the right to refuse to accept payment from a source other than the buyer of record. The purchaser must remove all property from the auction premises at his/her expense the day following the auction. All property must be collected within ten (10) days of the auction. If you fail to retrieve the purchased property within thirty (30) days after the Sale Date (such that the 30-day period is termed the "Retrieval Period") Revere Auctions reserves the right to charge a minimum storage and handling fee of $20 per lot per day. Revere Auctions also reserves the right to send the property to a public warehouse for the account and at the risk and expense of the purchaser, to be released only after payment in full of all removal, storage, handling, insurance, and any other costs incurred, together with payment of all other amounts due to us. It is the purchaser's sole responsibility to arrange to collect or ship the property and to identify and obtain any necessary export, import, firearm, endangered species, or other permit for the lot. Revere Auctions and the consignor make no representations or warranties as to whether any lot is or is not subject to export or import restrictions or embargoes. Purchasers are reminded that Revere Auctions' liability for loss or damage to sold property shall cease no later than thirty (30) days after the date of the auction, and immediately upon removal from Revere Auctions' facility if removal takes place within thirty (30) days after the date of sale.




Shipping
Revere Auctions offers in-house shipping for eligible orders and referrals to third-party shippers for all other orders. Customers with eligible orders will receive an email from ShippingSaint.com within two business days after an auction informing you of eligibility. Please allow 7-10 business days after submitting payment for your order for Revere Auctions to begin packaging your order. Eligible orders will include but are not limited to, unframed artwork, framed artwork, jewelry, coins, and decorative objects. Ineligible orders include but are not limited to, furniture, oversized lots, and any lot that must be shipped by a third party.


As a convenience to the Buyer, Revere Auctions will make a referral for packing and shipping to third-party shipping vendors. This is at the request, expense, and risk of the Buyer, and Revere Auctions assumes no responsibility for the items or the timing of delivery. Insurance for in-transit items is the responsibility of the buyer. The buyer must reach out to a third-party shipping vendor to arrange shipping.


"Oversized lots" are objects such as furniture, andirons, floor vases, sculptures, or any other item whose safe packing will exceed the limits of common carriers. The delivery of oversized, large, exceedingly heavy, or high-value objects is not an inexpensive proposition and we urge you to consider this before bidding.


The buyer must fill out the Shipping Release Form in order for their items to be released to a third-party shipper. This is to ensure that the won item(s) are given to the proper shipping company and reach their final destination safely. This form can be found here: revereauctions.com/shipping-release-authorization/


For a list of referrals for third-party shipping vendors, please see our Shipping Information page for more details. revereauctions.com/shipping-information/

September 16, 2025 12:00 PM CDT
St Paul, MN, US

Revere Auctions

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $6,999 $200
$7,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $499,999 $10,000
$500,000 $999,999 $25,000
$1,000,000 $9,999,999 $50,000
$10,000,000 + $100,000