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Praying Hands

The story of Albrecht Dürer

by By Laurence Chilcott

Suitable for Key Stage 2

Aims

To use the story of Albrecht Dürer and his famous pen-and-ink drawing, Praying Hands. (Please note that, although this story is widely circulated, there is no totally credible source.)

Preparation and materials

  • Have available a picture of Albrecht Dürer’s drawing, Praying Hands, and the means to show it during the assembly: http://tinyurl.com/jlsqs8b

Assembly

  1. Albrecht Dürer lived in Nuremberg around 500 years ago. He was the eldest of 18 children and his father was a goldsmith who had to work hard to keep food on the table. From a young age, it was clear that Albrecht had a talent for drawing. He often helped in his father’s shop, working to produce fine metal brooches and decorative ornaments. This work needed great care and attention to detail, and Albrecht enjoyed putting the same detail into his drawings.

  2. As he got older, Albrecht knew that he wanted to become an artist. He also knew that, to do this, he would need to learn from some of the great artists of the day. This would be expensive and he knew that his father would find it difficult to afford the years of training that were required. There was another problem, too: his brother, Albert, also wanted to become an artist, and there was no way that their father could afford for both boys to train.

  3. The two boys discussed their hopes and plans endlessly, but could see no way that would enable them both to get what they wanted. Eventually, they made a pact and agreed that one brother would have to work in the local mine in order to support the other during his training. Then, once the training was finished, this brother would sell his paintings to support the other brother with training. It was settled with the toss of a coin and Albrecht won – he would be first to learn from the masters.

  4. Albrecht spent time with artists in Germany and Italy. He became especially skilled at producing pictures cut into wood blocks that could make prints, some of which are still being used 500 years later! While Albrecht mixed with artists, his brother, Albert, worked in the mines. It was hard and dangerous work, but Albert persevered in the hope that soon he would have the opportunity that his brother was having. As they had agreed, Albert regularly sent money to support Albrecht.

  5. In time, Albrecht’s training was completed and he returned to his home town. He had become a well-known artist and he was able to earn considerable sums of money from work that was commissioned by wealthy aristocrats. Albrecht was now prepared to keep his end of the bargain and, at the family party that was thrown on his return, he renewed the promise that he had made to his brother. ‘Now, dear Albert, you can leave the mine and learn from the masters as I have. You have supported me and now I will support you. You will lack nothing, for my earnings will pay for the best teaching anyone could wish for, from the best artists in the world.’

  6. Albrecht looked with dismay at his brother, who stood with tears running down his face. Albert stretched out his hands and spoke quietly. ‘Not so, dear brother. I am proud that you have become an artist and I am glad that I was able to help you, but look at my hands. Work in the mines is hard and I have had every finger smashed at least once, the joints are swollen and I have developed arthritis. I find it hard to hold a glass in my hand, let alone a paintbrush, so I can never become the artist I wanted to be.’

  7. Albrecht embraced his brother: he realised the sacrifice that Albert had made, and marvelled that his brother was not resentful and bitter about what had happened. Would he, he wondered, be so generous if it were the other way round?

  8. ‘Well, then,’ said Albrecht. ‘You may not become a famous artist, but those hands that demonstrate the sacrifice you made for me will be famous, for I will use the skills that I have learnt to make them so.’ And that is just what happened. Albrecht drew the hands of his brother, and this drawing became very famous.

Time for reflection

Suggest, or ask the children to suggest, expressions that relate to hands and explain their meaning. For example, lending or giving a hand; having a handout; he’s a handful; to be shorthanded; many hands make light work; and a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Discuss how hands can convey meaning without words, for example, begging; stop; come here; over there; that way; aggression; and looking up or down.

Point out that the prime motivation for sacrifice is love. Help the children to think about the sacrifices that are made because of great love. For example, the starving mother who will give her share of food to her hungry child; the doctor who will leave a successful practice to work abroad in a developing country; the father who will dive into a raging sea to rescue his child; the sacrifice of servicemen and women who die for love of their country; and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, who Christians believe gave himself for the love of the world.

Ask the following questions, pausing for a moment after each to give time for thought.

- How will we use our hands today?
- Will they pick someone up or push someone down?
- Will they send someone away or draw them closer?
- Will they take what is not theirs or share what they have?
- Will they be clenched in anger or opened in peace?

Our hands, like our words, can hurt or help. Let’s try to use them well today.

Prayer
Dear God,
Jesus used his hands to help the sick and needy, and eventually he outstretched his arms in love for all when he died on the cross.
Please help us today to use our hands to help, encourage and support others, and to show them that we care.
Amen.

Publication date: June 2016   (Vol.18 No.6)    Published by SPCK, London, UK.
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