The true story of  "The Praying Hands" by Albrecht Durer

Albrecht Durer-The Praying Hands

Behind this work of art painted by Albrecht Durer in 1508, there is a fascinating story of Love and Sacrifice.

In a small village near Nuremberg lived a family with 14 children. In order to feed the family the father had to work hard. Two of his sons Albert and Albrecht were very gifted. They could draw beautifully and had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent, but they knew that their father would never be able to send either of them to study at the Academia. 

After a long discussion the brothers worked out a deal. They decided to toss a coin. The loser would go to work in the mines and support his brother's study. Then after four years he would support the other brother's learning either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by working in the mines.

They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning. Albrecht won and went off to the Nuremberg Academy. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, supported his brother. Albrecht's work at the academy was an immediate sensation. His paintings were much better than his professors. By the time he graduated he started earning considerable.

After his graduation he came back home. The whole Durer family celebrated his success with a dinner. After it Albrecht rose from his honored position at the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled him to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were: "And now, Albert - blessed brother, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you."

When everybody looked at Albert they saw tears in his eyes.

Albert rose and he glanced at the faces he loved, and then he said softly: "No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. 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 that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast."

More than 500 years have passed. Some believe that Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew abused hands in honor of his brother Albert. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands," but then the world renamed it to "The Praying Hands."

This great masterpiece is a reminder, that no one ever makes anything alone!

P.S. In the post I used materials from the presentation you can see here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGbZhcAMZ14