Edgar Byran Davis – Philanthropist

From “Texans Always Move ‘Em: A Texas True Story”

When Texas savage hunter Edgar Byram Davis struck oil near Luling, Texas, everyone benefited. After profiting from his discovery, he used his funds to improve Texas. Davis celebrated by hosting a huge free barbecue. He invited friends, employees and associates in Luling, Texas. He shared his profits by contributing to charities, bought golf courses for Luling, improved hospitals, and supported the arts. His patronage included support for the Broadway play “The Ladder” for two years and the controversial figure Edgar Cayce. Davis personally paid for the tickets for the play due to his belief in reincarnation that the play emphasized and that it was written by a friend of his.

texas impressionism

Edgar B. Davis also funds the Texas Wildflower Competitive Art Shows. The $5,000 prize money awarded in the competition was the richest art prize offered in the United States. Prizes were awarded at national and state competitions. Davis was fond of Texas wildflowers and was possibly inspired by Texas artist Julian Onderdonk (1882-1922), known as the “Bluebonnet Painter” and the “Father of Texas Painting”. His paintings of Texas landscapes, often depictions of areas near his home in San Antonio, earned him a national reputation. His father, Robert Jenkins Onderdonk (1852-1917) was also an established artist.

These art competitions brought painters to Texas and encouraged native artists to pursue painting. These competitions almost single-handedly spawned a style of painting known as “Texas Impressionism.” Texas Impressionism sought to portray the effects of sun and light on outdoor subjects. The Impressionist movement, which began in France, came to Texas through this movement. Texas-born artists José Arpa (1858-1952), Robert Wood (1889-1979), Rolla Taylor (1871-1970), and Porifirio Salinas (1919-1973). and Dawson-Dawson Watson (1864-1939) was born in England, but his close association and similar style with Texas painters groups him with the Texas Impressionists. Artist Porifirio Salinas met his fellow artists Robert Woos and Jose Arpa by selling them art supplies. From them he learned his unique style, he even cooperated with them on some paintings. From those lessons, he mastered his own style. One of his last students, Palmer Chrisman (1913-1984), became an acclaimed artist. Chrisman provided medical services in exchange for art lessons. Chrisman’s paintings were gifts from President Lyndon Johnson during his presidency. This new style encouraged painters to come to Texas, and the Dallas area became the center of the new Texas school of fine art painting.

Modern Texas artists whose paintings reflect this style include Dalhart Windberg and Larry Dyke. Dyke’s work has been hung in the White House and other prominent places. Larry Dyke’s paintings have his Bible passage reference on each work, which is one of his unique markers.

Lone Star Regionalism

Davis’s financial patronage was one of the bright spots during the economic hardships of the Texas Depression of the 1930s. Between his patronage and WPA projects fostering the development of artists and writers, a new style developed known as “Lone Star Regionalism”. This new style gradually gained dominance over the earlier Texas Impressionism movement. The new style used darker colors to represent themes unique to Texas. Some critics may claim that the dark colors reflected the dark mood of the time. The artists tried to make their subjects easy to understand for the common man. The ‘regionalists’ take everyday life as subjects for their art and writing. This increased emphasis on regionalism occurred in art and literature. Writers like J. Frank Dobie were part of this regionalism movement. J. Frank Dobie and Texas native Tom Lea pooled their talents in joint ventures during this time. Movement artists included Clinton King (1901-1979), Thomas Hart Benson, Jerry Bywaters (1906-1989), Alexandre Hogue, Henry Nash Smith, and David R. Williams. These artists were inspired by writers such as John Dewey, George Santayana, and Constance Rourke. A group of the most prominent artists living in Dallas became known as the “Dallas Nine”. Regionalist artists were influential in art throughout the United States. At the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City, after seeing the work of Texas artists, the exhibition’s president commented, “The exhibition indicates that New York is still the artistic center of the nation, but shows clearly that during the In recent years there has been a marked decentralization, and that various cities and towns throughout the country have risen up to challenge the leadership of the eastern metropolis”.

Artists during these difficult times turned to many creative techniques and mediums. They painted on railroad cars, burlap, and just about any surface the paint would adhere to. At their ingenuity, they made their own canvas frames and stretchers. The WPA government program employed artists to paint murals for public buildings such as post offices. Post office and courthouse works often used murals to convey Texas and historical themes. Among the leading mural painters were Texas-born artists Tom Lea (1907-2001) and Ruth Monro Augur.

Tom Lea’s work has been featured in federal buildings and post offices across the country. He also served as a military artist during World War II. On the centennial of his birth, President George W. Bush requested that Tom Lea’s painting of the Rio Grande from the El Paso Museum of Art be hung in the Oval Office. The work was eventually purchased and is currently on display in the Oval Office of the White House.

Texas Still Life

There were some Texas Regionalism artists who were grouped into a subgroup of Texas Still Lifes. These are still part of Texas Regionalism, but with works centered around still life themes. Among this group were Lloyd L. Sergeant (1881-1934), Robert J. Onderdonk, Alexandre Hogue, Florence McClung, HD Bugbee, Olive Vandruff, Emilio Caballero, and Isabel Robinson. Many of these artists were located in North Texas or in the Panhandle sections of the state. They shared a common theme of still life painting within the Texas Regionalist style and painted their works in the 1920s and 1930s.

Featured Modern Artists

Another prominent modern Texas artist is Bruce Marshall. Marshall is known for his portrayal of Texas historical figures and events. His depictions of military uniforms and the accuracy of his details have earned him high praise. He has written and published books on the early history and uniforms of Texas. His art was well known enough to be knighted for his achievements, thus he is now known as “Sir Bruce Marshall”. He and his wife reside in the Austin, Texas area on land that has been in his family since colonial Texas.

JOHNNIE LILIEDAHL is another artist from Texas with an international reputation. His education and art are in demand all over the world. People from Europe, Australia and Asia attend his classes to learn how he captures his subjects in a classic realistic stye reminiscent of European masters. Johnnie continues to teach art classes at his studio in La Porte, Texas.