Post by Rhonda on May 22, 2009 3:46:04 GMT -5
Praying Hands
In the 15th century in a small village near Nuremberg, in what is now Germany, a family had 18 children. The father, Albrecht Durer the Elder, a goldsmith by trade, would work up to eighteen hours a day doing his own work plus whatever odd jobs neighbors could find for him to do in order to help support his family.
Despite the condition that the family was living in two of the sons of Albrecht Durer the Elder had a dream. They, Albrecht and Albert, both had a talent for art they both hoped to pursue that talent, but they knew with their fathers financial condition that he could never afford to send them to the Academy in Nuremberg to study art.
The boys spent time talking until they were able to work out a plan of how to go to the Academy. They would toss a coin and the winner would get to go to the Academy for four years and his brother would go to work in the mines to pay for him to go to the Academy. Then when that brother had finished his studies and graduated he would return home and work in the mines while his brother went to the Academy for his four years of study. He would also be able to help support his brother by selling his artwork on the side.
After a coin toss on a Sunday after church, Albrecht Durer ( 1471-1528 ) won the coin toss and left to start his four years of study in Nuremberg. Albert was to go into the mines and spend the next four years supporting his brother. Albrecht was an immediate sensation in the art world of Nuremberg. His etchings, woodcuts, and oil paintings were rated far superior to even those of many his professors. By the time he graduated from the Academy he was already earning considerable fees on his commissioned works.
When Albrecht return home his family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate his homecoming and his accomplishments. After the meal, Albrecht rose from his seat of honor at the head of the table, to offer a toast to his brother who had sacrificed to support him as he studied and fulfilled his ambition to be an artist. His closing words were, " And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dreams and I will take care of you."
All heads turned towards where Albert was seated with expectation, but with tears running down his face, shaking his lowered head from side to side, he sobbed and kept repeating, "No, No, No, No!"
Finally Albert rose from his seat and wiping the tears from his face with his hands he looked down the long table and meet the eyes of those whom he loved. Then, while he held his hand next to his right cheek he said to Albrecht, "No, brother, I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is to late for me. Look.....look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother....for me it is to late."
The day was to come when Albrecht was to pay homage to his brother for this great sacrifice for him. He painstakingly drew Albert's abused hands with the palms together and his thin fingers pointed skyward. They were originally to be the central part of an altar in a church in Germany, but the altar was never finished and all we have is Albrecht Durer's powerful drawing that he had simply called " Hands. Only today do we know this drawing by the name it has been given by others, " The Praying Hands."
In the 15th century in a small village near Nuremberg, in what is now Germany, a family had 18 children. The father, Albrecht Durer the Elder, a goldsmith by trade, would work up to eighteen hours a day doing his own work plus whatever odd jobs neighbors could find for him to do in order to help support his family.
Despite the condition that the family was living in two of the sons of Albrecht Durer the Elder had a dream. They, Albrecht and Albert, both had a talent for art they both hoped to pursue that talent, but they knew with their fathers financial condition that he could never afford to send them to the Academy in Nuremberg to study art.
The boys spent time talking until they were able to work out a plan of how to go to the Academy. They would toss a coin and the winner would get to go to the Academy for four years and his brother would go to work in the mines to pay for him to go to the Academy. Then when that brother had finished his studies and graduated he would return home and work in the mines while his brother went to the Academy for his four years of study. He would also be able to help support his brother by selling his artwork on the side.
After a coin toss on a Sunday after church, Albrecht Durer ( 1471-1528 ) won the coin toss and left to start his four years of study in Nuremberg. Albert was to go into the mines and spend the next four years supporting his brother. Albrecht was an immediate sensation in the art world of Nuremberg. His etchings, woodcuts, and oil paintings were rated far superior to even those of many his professors. By the time he graduated from the Academy he was already earning considerable fees on his commissioned works.
When Albrecht return home his family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate his homecoming and his accomplishments. After the meal, Albrecht rose from his seat of honor at the head of the table, to offer a toast to his brother who had sacrificed to support him as he studied and fulfilled his ambition to be an artist. His closing words were, " And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dreams and I will take care of you."
All heads turned towards where Albert was seated with expectation, but with tears running down his face, shaking his lowered head from side to side, he sobbed and kept repeating, "No, No, No, No!"
Finally Albert rose from his seat and wiping the tears from his face with his hands he looked down the long table and meet the eyes of those whom he loved. Then, while he held his hand next to his right cheek he said to Albrecht, "No, brother, I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is to late for me. Look.....look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother....for me it is to late."
The day was to come when Albrecht was to pay homage to his brother for this great sacrifice for him. He painstakingly drew Albert's abused hands with the palms together and his thin fingers pointed skyward. They were originally to be the central part of an altar in a church in Germany, but the altar was never finished and all we have is Albrecht Durer's powerful drawing that he had simply called " Hands. Only today do we know this drawing by the name it has been given by others, " The Praying Hands."