Creating a Lasting Legacy: The Parallels between Fresco Painting and Organizational Culture
In the heart of the Sanctuary of Mercy church in Borja, northern Spain, resides a centuries-old fresco of Jesus Christ that gained fame not just for its original portrayal but also for a well-meaning but disastrous restoration. The “Ecce Homo” (‘Behold the Man’), a masterpiece by celebrated Spanish artist Elias Garcia Martinez, is now referred to mockingly as “Ecce Mono” (“Behold the Monkey”). This transformation resulted from a (not successful) restoration attempt by 81-year-old Cecilia Jimenez, who, in an effort to save the deteriorating fresco, unintentionally altered it with her paintbrush.
You may ponder how this painting, or its transformation, relates to the culture of startups or any other organization.
To comprehend this connection, we need to understand the nuances of fresco painting, the technique employed in creating the “Ecce Homo.”
Fresco painting, as exhibited in timeless works like Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper,’ is more than just an art technique. It’s a tradition that transcends borders and generations. Frescoes can be found across many European locations, standing as monumental narratives of a past era.
The parallels between fresco painting and an organization’s culture become apparent when we delve deeper into the process and art of fresco painting itself.
Though frescoes date back as far as 1500 BC, they are most frequently associated with the Italian Renaissance. The grandeur of frescoes can be witnessed in iconic paintings such as the ones of Leonardo, ‘The Sistine Chapel’ by Michelangelo, and ‘The School of Athens’ by Raphael.
Frescoes are meticulously crafted on walls and ceilings by applying pigment onto a thin layer of fresh plaster. As the plaster dries, the pigment particles permanently bind with the wall, immortalizing the artist’s vision.
Fresco and The Organization
However, creating a fresco presents unique challenges. Time is crucial — they must be painted rapidly, errors are difficult to rectify, and they are not movable — quite similar to the inherent nature of an organization’s culture.
In the early days of the venture, the focus might lean heavily on product development, customer acquisition, or refining the business model. However, often, the consciousness about culture surfaces later, when it has already been subconsciously formed and set in stone, just like a fresco.
Intriguingly, the technique of fresco painting significantly differs from conventional easel painting at every step. Therefore, it is best learned through a hands-on apprenticeship under an experienced fresco painter. Similarly, employees often learn about and emulate a company’s culture through the influence and actions of the founders. This is why startup founders and business leaders must recognize the connections between the art of frescos and company culture.
Be a Founder-Master
Just like the great masters, such as Leonardo and Michelangelo, founders should consider the culture they wish to cultivate from the start. They play an instrumental role in shaping the company’s culture — their values, actions, and behaviors act as a model for the employees who, like apprentices, will learn and then disseminate this culture throughout the organization.
If this cultural sculpting isn’t addressed as soon as possible and the culture has already hardened, it becomes exceedingly challenging to modify. Unlike a fresco, culture is a mutable aspect that accompanies an organization across borders.
Ignoring culture in the early stages might result in a situation akin to the well-known fresco in Borja — a final product far removed from its original intent. The lesson here is to approach company culture with the same forethought and intention as a fresco artist preparing to paint on a fresh layer of wet plaster. The decisions made in those initial stages will leave a long-lasting imprint on the organization, potentially defining its trajectory for years, if not centuries, to come.
The transformation of “Ecce Homo” to “Ecce Mono” — from the man to the monkey — due to Cecilia Jimenez’s well-meaning but ultimately misguided restoration attempt serves as a profound metaphor for founders and leaders. If you aspire to foster a culture that embraces creativity, agility, and acceptance of failure, these elements must be ingrained from day one. Retrofitting these values into an established culture may yield unexpected and undesired results.
Leaders must ensure that their cultural ‘fresco’ aligns with their vision or risk becoming an ‘Ecce Mono’ of the corporate world — a symbol of good intentions gone astray.
