Ernest Lawson (1873–1939)
What is Ernest Lawson’s work worth?
As of 3 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 117 auction results for Ernest Lawson at 16 houses since 1988. Over the last 24 months the median price was $15,680 including buyer’s premium (middle half $4,803–$29,760, n=6). The auction record is $313,000 for River in Winter (2007, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | River in Winter, 1907 | Oil paint | $313,000 | Christie's | Nov 2007 |
| 2 | Melting Snow, 1873 | Oil paint | $292,000 | Christie's | Nov 2000 |
| 3 | The Pigeon Coop, 1873 | Oil paint | $266,500 | Christie's | Nov 1999 |
| 4 | Boathouse, Winter, Harlem River, 1873 | Oil paint | $230,500 | Christie's | May 2010 |
| 5 | Harlem River, 1913 | Oil paint | $200,000 | Christie's | May 2019 |
| 6 | Union Square, New York in Winter, 1873 | Oil paint | $178,500 | Christie's | Dec 1998 |
| 7 | Cos Cob in Winter, 1873 | Oil paint | $175,500 | Christie's | May 2003 |
| 8 | Suburban Road, 1916 | Oil paint | $175,500 | Christie's | May 2004 |
| 9 | River Through the Everglades, 1873 | Oil paint | $170,500 | Christie's | Nov 2011 |
| 10 | New York Snow Scene with Madison Square Garden in the Distance, 1873 | Oil paint | $155,000 | Christie's | Dec 2013 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 91 | $23,500 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 61 | $35,250 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 28 | $6,113 |
Data as of 3 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 117 results from 16 houses · How we compute these figures
Ernest Lawson is an American artist with 149 auction lots recorded since 1988, median price $23,500. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Ernest Lawson sold in 2025 for $32,000, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
2 Ernest Lawson works are coming to auction (as of 2026-11-03). Follow Ernest Lawson free on OpeningBid for sale alerts.
See the full Ernest Lawson record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Ernest Lawson on OpeningBid →What is a Ernest Lawson work worth?
Across 114 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ernest Lawson work is $23,500.
The median Ernest Lawson painting sells for $28,090 across 102 lots.
The median Ernest Lawson print sells for $3,346 across 3 lots.
The median Ernest Lawson work on paper sells for $5,875 across 1 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Ernest Lawson paintings typically sell for $18,000–$68,750 (the middle half of 73 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Ernest Lawson paintings typically sell for $4,250–$18,038 (the middle half of 24 sold lots).
Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 6 | $3,346 | $3,800 | 50% | 2010-06-22 |
| Paintings | 122 | $28,090†‡ | $321,013 | 83.6% | 2026-09-17 |
| Works on Paper | 2 | $5,875 | $5,875 | 50% | 2003-03-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 11 | $200,000 | $321,013 | — | 2019-05-22 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Ernest Lawson's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (6 lots) median $3,346 with 50% sell-through. Paintings (122 lots) median $28,090, record $321,013. A typical Ernest Lawson painting sells for around 8.4× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 11 lots) the median is $200,000.
Price by size
Paintings
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 24 | $4,250–$18,038† | $7,895† | $155,000 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 73 | $18,000–$68,750†‡ | $35,250†‡ | $321,013 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 1999 | $321,013 |
| Paintings | 2007 | $313,000 |
| Works on Paper | 2003 | $5,875 |
| Prints & Editions | 1997 | $3,800 |
| Prints & Editions | 2003 | $3,346 |
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Ernest Lawson worth?
Across 114 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Ernest Lawson work is $23,500. The median Ernest Lawson painting sells for $28,090 across 102 lots. The median Ernest Lawson print sells for $3,346 across 3 lots. The median Ernest Lawson work on paper sells for $5,875 across 1 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Ernest Lawson paintings typically sell for $18,000–$68,750 (the middle half of 73 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Ernest Lawson paintings typically sell for $4,250–$18,038 (the middle half of 24 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a Ernest Lawson painting?
Based on 102 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Ernest Lawson painting is $28,090. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Ernest Lawson's most expensive painting?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Ernest Lawson painting is $321,013.
What is the average price of a medium Ernest Lawson painting?
Based on 73 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Ernest Lawson painting (medium (50–120 cm)) is $35,250, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a small Ernest Lawson painting?
Based on 24 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Ernest Lawson painting (small (under 50 cm)) is $7,895, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Some prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium.
What is Ernest Lawson's auction record?
Ernest Lawson's auction record is $321,013, set in 1999.
See the full Ernest Lawson record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Ernest Lawson on OpeningBid →