Elizabeth Wright

King Midas and the Golden Touch

Elizabeth Wright founded Bowman Press as part of her independent study with Scripps College Press in Claremont. She chose to retell the classic tale of Midas, king of Phrygia, who was blessed and cursed with a golden touch. Midas reigned in the late eighth century BCE. In the story, Silenus, the teacher of Dionysus, god of wine, was abducted. When Midas found and returned Silenus to his pupil, he was rewarded with the gift of golden touch. All was well until he embraced his beloved daughter and tragedy struck.

Wright used the intaglio etching process and gold leafing to create 12 images to accompany her text. When fully opened, the accordion fold book extends to over 18 feet long. The covers are made of two-ply museum board covered with gold moiré fabric.

Press: Bowman Press
Date: 2001
Number and Edition: 3 of 16
Size: 11” x 15”