A chocolate cake in exchange for a groundbreaking sacred work
Joseph Haydn composed his work The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross at the request of a Spanish canon. However, the payment came as a surprise to the composer: instead of money, he received a lavishly decorated chocolate cake. Haydn was initially upset, as he valued the depth of the composition far above any sweet treat. The trick, however, was soon revealed: the cake contained hidden gold inside. The gift both reflected the work’s value and served as an unusual, playful form of recognition for his artistry.