Collective Worship
Title: Praying Hands
Theme: Welsh poets, Art
School: Primary
Term: Autumn
Summary:
The story of Albrecht Duerer the artist and his painting of Two Hands. It is uncertain whether this story is historically correct. We believe that Albrecht’s brother, Albert, was the one who made it financially possible for Albrecht to study in college, by taking a job in a coal mine. It is commonly believed that the subject of this painting is Albert’s hands.
Teachers’ Notes
Recommended hymn:
Dwy Law yn Erfyn
Occasion:
October 24 - the date of the death of the poet T Rowland Hughes in 1949
Essential Material:
A book by T. Rowland Hughes, ideally incorporating a picture of the poet.
Directions:
The Powerpoint presentation should run with the story. ( ) indicates when the slide needs to change to the next.
The Main Text
Today’s story takes place about 500 years ago in another European country.
(Picture 1)
The family that we focus our attention on today lived in a small village near Nurembergin Germany. Even though 18 children had been born to the family, only three of these had lived into adulthood, so we can see right away that theirs was a hard life.
The father’s name was Albrecht Duerer Senior, and he was a goldsmith;you’d think that he was a wealthy man, since he worked with the most expensive metal of that period. But this was not so. In reality, he was very poor, trying to support his family through hard work. Two of Albrecht Duerer Senior’s children dreamt of becoming artists, but sending children to college was an expensive business in those days, and the father just could not afford to do so.
So the two boys, Albert and Albrecht decided to toss a coin to see who would go to college. The other brother would stay at home and work in the coal mine for four years so as to pay his brother’s college costs. The two would then change places so that the other brother could have the opportunity of a college education.
(Picture 2)
And this is what they did.Albrecht won the toss, and so he had the chance to go to Nuremberg to study painting,whilst Albert went to work in the coal mine so that he could earn enough money to pay for his brother’s education.
Working in the coal mine was difficult and dangerous work, but Albert stuck at it so that his brother could have the best possible education.
(Picture 3)
In Nuremberg, Albrecht astonished his teachers, since he had such a remarkable talent for painting. He learnt how to make etchings in wood, and was able to make printing plates for the recently invented printing presses. Before long, Albrecht was a better painter than his teachers and was being paid well for his pictures. By the end of his four years in college, he had become famous, with his pictures appearing as prints in books.
On his return home from college, his family had arranged a welcome-home party. After the feast,Albrecht rose to his feet to thank his brother for making his sacrifice, and going to work in the coal mine so that he, Albrecht, could receive an education. At the end of his speech he said that it was now Albert’s turn to go to college, and his, Albrecht’s, turn to pay the bills and support his brother. Albert’s eyes filled with tears when he heard this, but said that he could never go to college. He held up his hands and showed them to his brother. At one time or another he had broken every finger whilst working as a coal miner, and on top of this he suffered from rheumatism, which made his fingers stiff and very painful. He could never paint or draw again since he couldn’t hold a brush or pencil in his hand.
(Picture 4)
Albrecht paid tribute to his brother by painting a picture of Albert’s hands. We see that the palms of the hands are brought together, as if in prayer. Albrecht gave his masterpiece the title ‘Hands’ but by today the picture is known as ‘Praying Hands’, and it’s easy to understand why.
If we look carefully at the hands, we can see the marks left by the hard work that Albert did so that his brother could have a college education. We can marvel at Albrecht's’craftsmanship, and the way he succeeded in producing such a wonderfully skilful picture.
(pictures of other paintings by Duerer)
Let us pray.
We remember those who even today sacrifice their own future for the sake of others. We learn that things do not come easily to everyone, and that sometimes, people must make a great effort so that someone else can have a better future. When we complain about hard work, let us remember this story.
Help us to appreciate the efforts of others on our behalf, and make us prepared to sacrifice our time and money so that we can be of assistance to others.
We give thanks for Albrecht Duerer’s remarkable talent in painting such wonderful paintings, and give thanks for his brother’s willingness to work so hard for his sake.
Amen