The article goes to lengths to explain the saying, without ever mentioning its source... and so I assume the author also doesn't realize the common saying is a misquote. The actual quote makes a LOT more sense:

Shakespeare's King John, Act II (SALISBURY): ...To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, ...Is wasteful and ridiculous excess.

Gild all the lilies you want; artificial flowers have resale value.

But gold-plating gold? Yeah, that's just stupid.

Does the recent makeover of the Oval Office count as just one?

I think he has gilded many. Always gilded, though, never actually gold

I like metaphors. I respect a good “run with a metaphor” post. But I feel like if you have to explain the metaphor this much during the post it’s not worth it

True. This particular lily was less gilded than battered and deep fried.

"This post could have been a tweet", and so on.

It's a lovely metaphor for the soulful business of doing something really well, even if there is no 'market' for that kind of quality

Art is often its own reward.