WHAT IMAGES TEACH US ABOUT LEADERSHIP ​
Jacques-Louis David

Napoleon Crossing the Saint Bernhard Pass

1801-1802

oil on canvas

246 x 321 cm

one of five versions

Inv. 2342

Chateau de Versailles (Versailles, France)

Bronzino 

Portrait of Cosimo I de Medici

1545 

74 cm x 58 cm

Offices Florence

What makes a good leader?  In these turbulent times, works of art from around the world offer some surprising and inspiring answers.  Artists, particularly modern and contemporary artists, must contend with multiple challenges, from the limits and relevance of their mediums, to past history, to the difficulty of creating something durable during periods of great upheaval, to the effort to be more inclusive. But leaders in many other fields face similar challenges. By examining how artists have risen to meet these challenges, we can explore new ideas for communication and inclusion. Looking at the myriad ways that artists have sought to turn obstacles into opportunities offers an innovative discussion point to this larger challenge.