C. Ronald Bechtle

Bechtle was born in Philadelphia where he attended Temple University, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The School of Industrial Art, and the Fleisher Memorial Art Foundation. From 1952 to 1955, he studied privately with artist Benton Spruance (1904-1967). Heavily influenced by the works of Piero Della Francesa, Rembrandt, Goya, Matisse and Gorky, Bechtle’s work has primarily been abstract or semi-abstract in character. Though most of his paintings are titled by number, the artist says they are not in chronological order. Working exclusively in watercolor, crayon, pastel and pencil, Bechtle has exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and has been president of Group 55, Philadelphia Abstract Artists.