William Pierce Stubbs (1842 - 1909)

William Pierce Stubbs was an American marine painter. Born in Orrington, Maine, he was the son of a shipmaster, and was master of his father’s ship from 1863-73. In 1871 Stubbs painted what is likely his first ship portrait, and by 1876 he was listed as a marine painter in the Boston city directory. He lived in Bucksport, Maine and shared a Boston studio with Wesley Webber. Later, Stubbs worked at his own studios in Boston and Charlestown where it is likely that Badger was his student.

From his early beginnings painting genre scenes of seaside life, Stubbs became highly regarded for his ship paintings, rendered in the tradition of the day’s most respected ship portraitists. His works include paintings of the whaling fleets of New Bedford and Nantucket. 

Stubbs work was included in an exhibition at the International Maritime Exhibition of 1890 in Boston. Examples of his work are held at the Bostonian Society; Cape Ann Museum and Peabody Essex Museum.