Ron Lesser Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Ron Lesser Art Value Price Guide

Nov. 23, 2025
Ron Lesser (NY,20C) oil painting
Est: $700 - $900
ARTIST: Ron Lesser (New York, 20 century) TITLE: Southern Nights (titled on verso) MEDIUM: oil on board CONDITION: Overall good. No visible inpaint under UV light. Wear to frame. ART SIZE: 19 x 24 inches / 48 x 60 cm FRAME SIZE: 25 x 30 inches / 63 x 76 cm SIGNATURE: lower right LOCATION: This lot is located at our Mamaroneck, NY office. CATEGORY: old antique vintage painting for auction sale online AD: ART WANTED: Consign, Trade In, Cash Offer SKU#: 139677 US SHIPPING: $95 + insurance. BIOGRAPHY: While growing up, Ron Lesser was recognized for his artistic potential. He was admitted into New York's High School of Music and Art and later the Pratt Institute of Art and the Art Students League, studying under the influential teacher, Frank J. Reilly.Drawing on his extensive fine art background, and inspired by the great classical painters such as N.C. Wyeth, Norman Rockwell, Tom Lovell and others, Ron focuses on historical paintings of high visual impact and strong characterizations. He creates paintings inspired by his fascination of the culture and environment of his subject matter. These paintings bring back the important and often exciting moments that existed in the 19th century. While giving attention to detail, a devotion to strong and dramatic compositions coupled with a unique creative vision sets a Ron Lesser painting apart. This overall impact transports the viewer to another time and place. "I'm trying to tell a story. I like people to look at one of my paintings and feel like they could step into the scene."Lesser created Western movie art for "High Plains Drifter," "Paint Your Wagon," "The Way West," and the story boards for the dream sequence in "A Man Called Horse." He has painted the covers of Western book authors such as Louis L'Amour, Luke Short, Will Cook, Gordon Shirreffs and others. Ron's "Spirit of the Warrior" and "Famous Generals of the Civil War" plate collection are his singular vision of Native American life and the majesty of the Civil War generals.The highly respected New York Art Directors Club, in existence since 1921, has twice honored Lesser for Best Movie Art of the Year. The Society of Illustrators, founded in 1901 with members whose works of art have been exhibited and collected worldwide, has bestowed, many times, the coveted Gold Medal for his paintings exhibited at the Society over the years.
Broward Auction Gallery LLC
Jul. 13, 2025
Ron Lesser (NY,20C) oil painting
Est: $700 - $900
ARTIST: Ron Lesser (New York, 20 century) TITLE: Southern Nights (titled on verso) MEDIUM: oil on board CONDITION: Overall good. No visible inpaint under UV light. Wear to frame. ART SIZE: 19 x 24 inches / 48 x 60 cm FRAME SIZE: 25 x 30 inches / 63 x 76 cm SIGNATURE: lower right LOCATION: This lot is located at our Mamaroneck, NY office. CATEGORY: old antique vintage painting for auction sale online AD: ART WANTED: Consign, Trade In, Cash Offer SKU#: 139677 US SHIPPING: $95 + insurance. BIOGRAPHY: While growing up, Ron Lesser was recognized for his artistic potential. He was admitted into New York's High School of Music and Art and later the Pratt Institute of Art and the Art Students League, studying under the influential teacher, Frank J. Reilly.Drawing on his extensive fine art background, and inspired by the great classical painters such as N.C. Wyeth, Norman Rockwell, Tom Lovell and others, Ron focuses on historical paintings of high visual impact and strong characterizations. He creates paintings inspired by his fascination of the culture and environment of his subject matter. These paintings bring back the important and often exciting moments that existed in the 19th century. While giving attention to detail, a devotion to strong and dramatic compositions coupled with a unique creative vision sets a Ron Lesser painting apart. This overall impact transports the viewer to another time and place. "I'm trying to tell a story. I like people to look at one of my paintings and feel like they could step into the scene."Lesser created Western movie art for "High Plains Drifter," "Paint Your Wagon," "The Way West," and the story boards for the dream sequence in "A Man Called Horse." He has painted the covers of Western book authors such as Louis L'Amour, Luke Short, Will Cook, Gordon Shirreffs and others. Ron's "Spirit of the Warrior" and "Famous Generals of the Civil War" plate collection are his singular vision of Native American life and the majesty of the Civil War generals.The highly respected New York Art Directors Club, in existence since 1921, has twice honored Lesser for Best Movie Art of the Year. The Society of Illustrators, founded in 1901 with members whose works of art have been exhibited and collected worldwide, has bestowed, many times, the coveted Gold Medal for his paintings exhibited at the Society over the years.
Broward Auction Gallery LLC
May. 28, 2025
Ron Lesser - The Velvet Vixen, Original Painting
Est: $200 - $400
Circa 2010. Original oil on masonite painting by Ron Lesser, titled "The Velvet Vixen". Great image of a seductive woman holding a tommy gun. Overall approx. 12-1/4" x 18".
Weiss Auctions
Dec. 08, 2023
HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER (1973) - One-Sheet Movie Poster KS47
Est: $300 - $600
A good-looking folded poster with general mild scattered crimping, minor fold wear, a pinhole in each corner, and a very small crimp tear in the upper left background that has been put back with archival tape on the verso. There is also a faint blue stain on the lower left border and a light blue number stamp in the lower right corner. This lot will be auctioned on Friday, December 8th. Note other lots in the auction may close on December 7th.
Propstore Los Angeles
May. 29, 2023
RON LESSER "CANNONS ON THE SQUARE" FRAMED PRINT
Est: -
ARTIST SIGNED, NO. 148/200, FRAMED UNDER GLASS APPROX. 23.5" X 18" TALL
Lakelands Auction Service
Apr. 21, 2021
Ron Lesser, IMAGERY
Est: €400 - €700
Promotional oil painting. QUALITY: A-. A minimal loss of colour at the bottom else excellent condition. Signed.
Cambi Casa d'Aste
Dec. 26, 2020
Ron Lesser 'Final Assault Stonewall Jackson' Print
Est: -
Signed In Pen Towards The Lower Right Corner. Titled: Final Assault - Stonewall Jackson At Chancellorsville - May 2 1863. In Good Condition. Framing Measures Approximately 17in X 21in. Art Measures Approximately 10in X 14in. Bh14399 Zh
EJ'S Auction & Appraisal
Dec. 28, 2019
Lesser & Everett - Whiskey Traders
Est: $1,000 - $2,000
This oil painting on board illustration of The Whiskey Traders is by Ron Lesser. The work was completed in New York for Ballantine Books for Wade Everett's novel. Born in New York City, Ron Lesser is a prolific illustrator who, over the course of his life, has created thousands of paperback covers, movie posters, television ads, and advertising art pieces. He attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, though he dropped out after a semester to pursue his career, and the Art Students League of New York where he studied under artist Frank J. Reilly. Active in book and magazine illustration since the 50s, Lesser steadily worked throughout the mid- to late 20th century making posters for Hollywood movies, paperback books, and advertisements. He made the posters for five Clint Eastwood western films, including the iconic poster for "High Plains Drifter" and "Joe Kidd," and Sam Peckinpah's "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid." Recently, he did the movie art for the 2017 film, "Atomic Blonde," starring Charlize Theron. Lesser is probably most known for his paperback covers of crime and western novels and was one of the top illustrators for Western paperback covers at the time, before the shift from illustration to photography occurred with the increased use of Adobe Photoshop in the 90s. He made work for publishers including Dell, New American Library/Signet, Harlequin, among others. This book cover was made for the Western novel, "Indian Fighter," by E.E. Halleran, published in 1964 by Ballantine Books.
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books
Dec. 28, 2019
Lesser & Halleran - Indian Fighter
Est: $1,000 - $2,000
This watercolor and gouache illustration of Indian Fighter is by Ron Lesser. The work was completed in New York for Ballantine Books for E. E. Halleran's western novel. Born in New York City, Ron Lesser is a prolific illustrator who, over the course of his life, has created thousands of paperback covers, movie posters, television ads, and advertising art pieces. He attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, though he dropped out after a semester to pursue his career, and the Art Students League of New York where he studied under artist Frank J. Reilly. Active in book and magazine illustration since the 50s, Lesser steadily worked throughout the mid- to late 20th century making posters for Hollywood movies, paperback books, and advertisements. He made the posters for five Clint Eastwood western films, including the iconic poster for "High Plains Drifter" and "Joe Kidd," and Sam Peckinpah's "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid." Recently, he did the movie art for the 2017 film, "Atomic Blonde," starring Charlize Theron. Lesser is probably most known for his paperback covers of crime and western novels and was one of the top illustrators for Western paperback covers at the time, before the shift from illustration to photography occurred with the increased use of Adobe Photoshop in the 90s. He made work for publishers including Dell, New American Library/Signet, Harlequin, among others. This book cover was made for the Western novel, "Indian Fighter," by E.E. Halleran, published in 1964 by Ballantine Books.
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books
Dec. 21, 2019
Lesser - Original Painting - Bugle and Spur
Est: $1,500 - $2,500
This is an original watercolor and gouache painting for the work Bugle and Spur. The painting was completed by Ron Lesser for Brian Garfield's novel. The novel was first published in 1986 in New York by Ballantine Books. Born in New York City, Ron Lesser is a prolific illustrator who, over the course of his life, has created thousands of paperback covers, movie posters, television ads, and advertising art pieces. He attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, though he dropped out after a semester to pursue his career, and the Art Students League of New York where he studied under artist Frank J. Reilly. Active in book and magazine illustration since the 50s, Lesser steadily worked throughout the mid- to late 20th century making posters for Hollywood movies, paperback books, and advertisements. He made the posters for five Clint Eastwood western films, including the iconic poster for "High Plains Drifter" and "Joe Kidd," and Sam Peckinpah's "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid." Recently, he did the movie art for the 2017 film, "Atomic Blonde," starring Charlize Theron. Lesser is probably most known for his paperback covers of crime and western novels and was one of the top illustrators for Western paperback covers at the time, before the shift from illustration to photography occurred with the increased use of Adobe Photoshop in the 90s. He made work for publishers including Dell, New American Library/Signet, Harlequin, among others. This book cover was made for the Western novel, "Bugle and Spur," by Brian Garfield, published in 1986 by Ballantine Books.
Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books
Aug. 17, 2010
RON LESSER (American, 20th Century) The Kubla Khan Cape
Est: $700 - $900
RON LESSER (American, 20th Century) The Kubla Khan Caper, paperback cover, 1967 Gouache on board 13.5 x 10 in. Signed lower right This illustration appeared on the cover of Richard Prather's Shell Scott mystery novel, The Kubla Khan Caper, Pocket Books #53505, 1967. "This one starts when a man named Ormand Monaco decides to celebrate the opening of his posh hotel in Palm Desert, the Kubla Khan, by staging a beauty contest and instead ends up with a couple of murders. Naturally he calls up you know who."
Heritage Auctions
May. 07, 2010
Lesser, Ron - The Third Spectre, paperback cover
Est: $200 - $400
RON LESSER (American, 20th Century) The Third Spectre, paperback cover, 1969 Gouache on board 18 x 11.5 in. Signed lower left This illustration appeared on the cover of Dan Ross' novel, The Third Spectre, MacFadden-Bartell, 1969. "The mansion's beauty lured her. Then something unreal came to visit -- and to kill." From the Estate of Charles Martignette.
Heritage Auctions
Feb. 18, 2010
RON LESSER (20TH CENTURY) AMERICAN SHOW STOPP;
Est: $800 - $1,200
RON LESSER (20TH CENTURY) AMERICAN SHOW STOPP; ILLUSTRATION OIL ON MASONITE 15.5" x 10.5" - 39.4 x 26.7 cm.
Waddington's
Jul. 15, 2009
RON LESSER (American, 20th Century) The Mistress,
Est: $800 - $1,200
RON LESSER (American, 20th Century) The Mistress, Carter Brown paperback cover, 1965 Gouache on board 15 x 22 in. Signed lower right This illustration appeared on the cover of the Carter Brown novel, The Mistress, New American Library,1965.
Heritage Auctions
Oct. 15, 2008
RON LESSER (American 20th Century) Paperback cover
Est: $500 - $1,000
RON LESSER (American 20th Century) Paperback cover Gouache on bard 15 x 10.5 in. Not signed
Heritage Auctions
Jun. 04, 2007
Movie Illustration Art Ron Lesser (20th C
Est: $500 - $700
Movie Illustration Art, Ron Lesser (20th C, Amer), "The Sacketts", from a Louis L'Amour novel, Sam Elliot, Tom Selleck, et all, gouache, signed lower right, 16 3/4" x 17 1/4", framed 24" x 25"
Rose Hill Auction Gallery