Silenus and King Midas
1550
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1550
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This engraving shows Silenus, the old drunken satyr with goat legs, sitting at a table with King Midas. Gold cups and a half-eaten meal sit between them. Midas looks worried while Silenus grins through his beard. This scene comes from a famous Greek myth where Midas’ greed backfires. The artist used fine lines to show textures, like Silenus’ fur or the tablecloth’s folds. Look up Giulio Bonasone (Italian, c. 1510–after 1576).
