Note 1): Per http://en.allexperts.com/q/Fine-Art-3122/2011/11/ralph-arthur-lytle-paintings.htm, Bonhams, Los Angeles responded to a woman, who had sent them photos of 2 Lytle oil paintings, in which she was, in effect seeking advice regarding Lytle and the value of his paintings. Bonham's replied in part:

“They are lovely paintings. According to Artists in California 1786-1940, by Edan Milton Hughes:

Ralph Arthur Lytle (1882-1959. Painter. Born in Boulder, CO on Feb. 11, 1882. Lytle settled in Los Angeles in 1914. He worked there as a freelance commercial artist while painting fine art in his leisure. He died in Los Angeles on March 12, 1959. His painting subjects included desert landscapes and scenes of southern California.

He painted in the Mojave Desert. I found a painting of his near 29 Palms. A few of his desert paintings that sold at auctions in the past couple of years were in the range between $150-950. These are considered wholesale pricing and if you were to find one in a retail gallery it should be much higher. (Emphasis added).”

Note 2) The foregoing considerations; the esthetic appeal of this lovely pair of Lytle's two small Southern California desert views executed flawlessly in his Impressionist pastel palette and brushwork, which are in good condition and attractively framed; and the following auction records regarding Lytle's sales warrant the conclusion that the presale estimate of $300-$400 for this lot and $200-$300 for the immediately succeeding Lytle painting lot are reasonable and justifiable.

Title/Subject: Untitled California Landscape Signed. Gouache on paper. 10 in. x 14 in. sold for $285 on 08/24/2011-08/25/2011 at Mroczek Brothers Auctioneers & Associates, Seattle, WA