Manfredi's Midas first caught my attention two years ago on a spur-of-the-moment trip to The Metropolitan Museum during an effort to escape from the tortuous winds of a New York winter. Wondering through the European paintings, I suddenly recognized the painting's protagonist, recognizable by his golden crown and emotional expression.
Midas, as told by Greek mythology, was a king who desired money and power. Granted by the Gods the power to turn anything he touched into gold, Midas relished in his wealth. Soon, however, Midas dies of starvation, for even the food he touched would turn to gold (Aristotle, Politics).
This traces back to my initial interest in the relationship between happiness and power/wealth – and how they are sometimes uncorrelated. What happens if the richest king in all the world is to starve to death?
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