Ronald Werner Muckelberg - A Young New Jersey Artist

Ronald Werner Muckelberg:

A Young New Jersey Artist

"The Sea"

“The Sea” - Maine

Oil on Canvas Board, Framed NYC

for the 6th Floor Nurses

Dated: April 9th, 1956

Signed Ronald Muckelberg

Ronald Werner Muckelberg

Today we are going to celebrate the life of “Ronald Werner Muckelberg.” His small oil on canvas board painting, The Sea, arrived in my house a couple of years ago. It had a sketch quality and I put it under my desk. One day I went to research the artist for fun of it and found the following memorial write-up for his class reunion:

Ronald Muckelberg: After leaving Pascack Valley High School, Muckelberg was accepted to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, where he studied Commercial Art. The courses were very rigorous. He was only able to stay in college from September to January due his Hodgkin’s disease that started when he was a freshman in high school. His parents knew for four years that his illness would progress to the point of eventually taking his life, he died August 10, 1960.

During his years in high school Muckelberg was inspired by Donald Wyckoff. He just always seemed to draw out the best in his art students, leading them into careers that best suited their talents. Ronald loved to draw, paint, and do very detailed pen and ink drawings. Even while in the hospital for one of his many stays, he drew cartoon-like depictions of some of his experiences.

As with every young artist that is gone too soon, we wondered what paths their life would have taken. This information was provided by Ronald’s sister: Brenda Muckelberg Stern - a one time art teacher. It is my sincere hope that this blog connects Ms. Stern once again to her brother and she gets the chance to see it.

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