Robert Jenkins Onderdonk facts for kids

Robert Jenkins Onderdonk (born January 16, 1852 – died July 2, 1917) was an American painter and art teacher. He was born in Catonsville, Maryland. Robert Onderdonk was a very important artist in the early days of Texas art. He taught art for many years in San Antonio and Dallas. He also helped start art groups and clubs. Because of his great work in Texas art, people called him the "Dean of Texas's Artists."

About Robert Onderdonk

Sketch for the Fall of Alamo, 1901, Dallas Museum of Art

Robert came from a well-known and educated Dutch family. His father was the headmaster of Saint James School in Maryland. He was also the president of the Maryland Agricultural College. Robert's great-uncles were important church leaders.

Robert Jenkins Onderdonk studied art in the 1870s. He went to the National Academy of Design and the Art Students League of New York. Some of his teachers were famous artists like William Merritt Chase and James Carroll Beckwith.

Moving to Texas

R. J. Onderdonk moved to Texas in 1878. His friend, William Robert Negley, had already moved there to start a ranch. In 1881, Robert married Emily Gould. They had three children together. Robert hoped to paint portraits for rich Texans. He wanted to earn enough money to travel to Europe. But he ended up staying in Texas for 38 years. During that time, he painted many pictures and taught art.

Starting Art Clubs

Robert was a founder of some of the first art clubs in Texas. He helped create "The Brass Mug Club." This was a group of artists in San Antonio. They would go out into the Texas Hill Country to paint. Other artists in this club included José Arpa, Leo Cotton, Rolla Taylor, Tom Brown, and Ernst Raba.

In San Antonio, he also started an art group for women painters. It was called the Van Dyck club. This club later became the San Antonio Arts League. His daughter, Eleanor, was a very important member and organizer of this group. In 1893, in Dallas, he helped start the Art Students League of Dallas. Students from this league showed their paintings every year at the State Fair of Texas.

Famous Paintings and Family

Onderdonk's most famous painting is Fall of the Alamo. He finished it in 1903. This painting was shown at a big fair in St. Louis in 1904. Today, it is kept in the Texas State Archives. The painting shows Davy Crockett in the middle. He is swinging his rifle over his head to fight the Mexican soldiers. Many copies of this picture have been printed. Some people say that if Robert had spent more time painting instead of teaching, he would have been one of America's best artists.

Two of Robert's three children also became famous artists in Texas. Eleanor (1884–1964) was a skilled miniaturist. She painted very small, detailed pictures. Julian Onderdonk (1882–1922) became known as the "Bluebonnet painter." Julian went to the West Texas Military Academy. Like his father, Robert, Julian also studied painting in New York with William Merritt Chase. He then returned to Texas in 1909.

Robert died in 1917 when he was 65 years old. He passed away at his home in San Antonio. His artworks can be seen in several museums. These include the Witte Museum, the Stark Museum of Art, the Dallas Museum of Art, and the Texas State Library.

Artwork

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  Early Texas Landscape, oil on canvas

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  Landscape watercolor on paper