Julian Onderdonk, a Texas native, left for New York at 19 to study under American Impressionist William Merritt Chase. After studying with Chase for a couple of years, Julian moved to New York City to pursue a career as an en plein air artist. In 1909, he returned to San Antonio, where he produced his best work, focusing on bluebonnet landscapes. His paintings gained recognition, with three displayed in the Oval Office by President George W. Bush. The Dallas Museum of Art showcases several rooms dedicated to his work, while his art studio is housed at the Witte Museum. A comprehensive collection of his works was compiled by Harry A. Halff and Elizabeth Halff in their book "Julian Onderdonk: A Catalogue Raisonne," coinciding with an exhibit at the San Antonio Museum of Art in 2017.