When a Texas oilman funded a national art competition in the late 1920s, the generous prize money swiftly attracted such artists as Oscar E. Berninghaus and Herbert Dunton (founding members of the Taos Society of Artists). In addition to a gallery of color plates representing the best of the winning entries, this book offers an intriguing portrait of art philanthropy and the development of artistic trends. The San Antonio Art League was charged with administering the Texas Wildflower Competitive Exhibitions. In three years more than $53,000 was awarded to artists for painting Davis's selected Texas subjects. From this alliance of philanthropy and talent came what Cecilia Steinfeldt calls "a milestone in the saga of Texas art history". Eventually, the controversy and visibility generated by the competition fueled the regionalist movement that would reject impressionism and gain prominence in the 1930s. The story of Edgar B. Davis, the Yankee entrepreneur -- turned -- Luling, Texas, oilman, is as intriguing as that of the competitions he sponsored. Inspired by a mystical conviction that his success was intended for the public good, he established charitable foundations and supported the arts. A foreword by art historian Cecilia Steinfeldt places the competitions in historical perspective, and an afterword by art appraiser and teacher Richard Casagrande provides commentary on individual paintings.