Lynn Bogue Hunt (1878-1960), The "Pilar" Fights a Blue Marlin...

Lot 63

About Seller

20 Winter Street
Pembroke, MA 02359
United States

Founded in 2005, Copley Fine Art Auctions is a boutique auction house specializing in antique decoys and American, sporting, and wildlife paintings. Over the course of the last two decades, the firm has set auction records for not only individual decoy makers, but also entire carving regions. Copley...Read more

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The Sporting Sale 2025, Day 1 by Copley Fine Art Auctions

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The Sporting Sale 2025, Day 1

By Copley Fine Art Auctions

Jul 10, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-07-10 10:00:00 2025-07-10 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Sporting Sale 2025, Day 1 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/copley/the-sporting-sale-2025-day-1-19844 Lots 1-316 Copley Fine Art Auctions cinnie@copleyart.com

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Lot Description

Lynn Bogue Hunt (1878-1960)
The "Pilar" Fights a Blue Marlin..., 1940
signed "Lynn Bogue Hunt" lower left
oil on canvas, 22 by 18 in.
titled "The 'Pilar' Fights a Blue Marlin Off Cuba North Coast, Ernest Hemingway" on back

Lynn Bogue Hunt was born in rural Honeoye Falls, New York, into a family that ran a small sawmill operation. He grew up with modest means, but spent hours outside exploring the natural surroundings in the woods near his home. He often collected birds and practiced taxidermy, a hobby that led to his accurate portrayal of his wildlife subjects.

Hunt contributed illustrations to his own articles as well as cover illustrations to magazines, such as "Field & Stream," "Sports Afield," and "Free Press." During his lifetime, Hunt painted for private collectors and companies such as DuPont, illustrated over forty books, and produced roughly 250 magazine covers. Though he spent much of his life far from nature in New York City, Hunt had a strong foundation as a knowledgeable outdoorsman, bird hunter, and fisherman, enabling him to accurately capture the essence of the outdoors.

In May 1940, this work appeared on the cover of "The Rotarian," the official magazine of Rotary International. Raymond T. Schmitz worked for Rotary for many years, including as the magazine's business manager.

The accompanying article notes, "Beneath the vast glitter of the Gulf Stream off the coast of Cuba lurks the greatest challenge in the world to anglers who love to fight the big ones. And no authority on the subject ranks higher than Author Ernest Hemingway, friend of Artist Lynn Bogue Hunt who limned Hemingway's boat, the Pilar, in the background of the Leaping Marlin cover on this month's Rotarian."

In the article, Hemingway writes, "In May and June there is a run of white marlin off Havana which provides the finest marlin fishing in the world. On days when the fish are running heavily, it is not uncommon to see 20 or more fish in a day. On May 20, 1933, I caught seven marlin within an hour's cruising range of Morro Castle at trolling speed...

"The size and strength of the marlin are almost past belief. The largest caught in the 1939 tournament weighed 370 pounds. One big fellow, hooked from a drifting rowboat off Havana, towed the craft 50 miles down the coast when he headed out to sea. At ten miles out the discouraged fishermen cut the line--and the old war horse may be going yet," the article continues.

Hemingway's influence in the sport fishing world cannot be understated and extends far beyond his writings. A passionate and experienced fisherman, Hemingway was one of the most outspoken promoters of fishing ethics and sportsmanship of his time. As a founding member of the International Game Fish Association, he served as the organization's first vice president from 1939, maintaining this position until his death in 1961. This work, depicting one of the greatest American outdoor writers and sportsmen of all time, painted by Hunt, his good friend and storied illustrator, is one of the most important angling paintings ever to be offered for sale.

Provenance: The artist
Raymond T. Schmitz Collection
Private Collection, by descent
Private Collection, Illinois

Literature: "The Rotarian," Vol. 56, No. 5, May 1940, illustrated on cover.

Condition

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