Scott Dalrymple and John Clemens, Professors of Business Administration at Hartwick, recently presented research at the International Conference on Business and Economics, held this year in Florence, Italy. Their session, titled "Finding Leadership Insights in Great Art," took place at the University of Florence on October 19.
"Our premise is that some of the world's best-known works of art can be viewed through the lens of leadership," Dalrymple said. Take, for instance, Michelangelo's statue of David, the original of which resides in the Galleria dell'Accadmia in Florence. The subject of David was popular in Michelangelo's time--many sculptors, including Donatello and Verrocchio, had already created famous Davids. Those earlier sculptures concentrated on the moment following David's victory. They portray a proud David standing over the head of the defeated Goliath.
Michelangelo, though, chose to capture a different scene. "To him," said Dalrymple, "the more interesting point was the moment of David's decision. So we see a resolute David, peering off in the distance at his foe, making the decision to face him." It's a subtle distinction, Dalrymple said, but a deliberate one on the artist's part. "Michelangelo understood that the moment of decision is often just as important--sometimes more important--than the act itself." Dalrymple and Clemens believe that modern leaders can learn some important lessons from great works of art.
Other works studied by the pair include Pieter Bruegel's "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus," a lesson in humility; Emanuel Leutze's "Washington Crossing the Delaware," an example of bold leadership in dire times; and Auguste Rodin's "Burghers of Calais," which portrays a tale of extraordinary self-sacrifice on the part of leaders. Dalrymple and Clemens are currently turning their research into a book (their second collaboration), tentatively titled "Michelangelo's Secret: What Leaders Can Learn from Great Art." Dalrymple, Chair of the Business Administration & Accounting Department, earned his Ph.D. in literature. Clemens is founder and Executive Director of the Hartwick Humanities in Management Institute.
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Hartwick College is a private liberal arts and sciences college of 1,480 students, located in Oneonta, NY in the northern foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Hartwick's expansive curriculum emphasizes connecting the classroom to the world. Through personalized teaching, collaborative research, a unique January Term, a wide range of internships, and limitless study-abroad opportunities, Hartwick ensures that students are prepared for the world ahead. Strong financial aid and scholarship programs keep a Hartwick education affordable.
Contact: Christopher Lott
E-mail: lottc@hartwick.edu
Phone: 607-431-4030
