An industrialist lived the first half of his life solely for wealth.

He worked hard and now he was worth nearly seven zillion dollars.

But something was missing. He felt a void in the center of his soul, and he realized that the only thing that could fill it was art.

So he set out to be a patron of the arts.

But this industrialist could not just be a patron. He had to match his achievement in industry. And not only match but surpass it. Further, he would utilize the very virtues that made him the wealthiest man in the world to produce the greatest work of art.

His patronage would be remembered as the crowning achievement of his life.

So he budgeted one-third of his vast fortune to fund a single great masterpiece.

One third of his fortune! — two and one-third zillion dollars — channeled into one painting!

Whoever was chosen would become mindbogglingly wealthy.

Never had any artist in the history of humankind been incentivized to this extreme of excellence!

The patron knew he would have to proceed very carefully. A third of his fortune was at stake. There was no room for mistakes.

To ensure the desired result, he issued a Request for Proposal.

In this RFP, was a requirement: Provide an exact description of what the paining would be, on quarter inch squares, specifying surface, brush size, paint type, brand and pigment.

The patron wanted to visualize very precisely what each painter planned to deliver, so he could compare proposals and to select the best option.

This is what he intended, and this is exactly what he did.

Hundreds of the best painters submitted proposals.

The patron carefully compared and selected the best one.

The selected painter painted the painting, flawlessly and exactly as described. What is more, the painting was delivered on time and on budget.

It was the best painting ever produced.