THE PRAYING HANDS
Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) was a renowned artist,
engraver and painter who lived in Nuremberg in Germany. His famous works
include ‘St. Sebastian at the Column’, ‘Young Hare’ and ‘The Praying Hands.’ There
is a very popular story behind the creation of ‘The Praying Hands’.
Albrecht Durer worked with his
close friend, Franz Knigstein in Nuremberg. They aspired deeply to study the
art of painting. But being very poor they had to work hard and could not find
time or money to fulfil their cherished dreams. Finally they found a solution
to their problem. They decided that one of them should work and earn money to
support both of them while the other would study. When he becomes a rich and successful
artist, he would in turn support his friend to pursue his studies. They tossed
a coin and Albrecht won. He went to study in the famous art schools in European
cities while his friend, Franz Knigstein started manual work to support them.
He had to toil hard in a blacksmith’s workshop for several years.
When Albrecht returned after
completing his studies, he was shocked to find that his friend’s sensitive fingers
had become bruised, calloused, deformed, gnarled, stiffened and twisted by
years of hard manual labour. Kingstein’s
fingers were now unfit to perform the delicate brush strokes necessary for fine
painting. But Kingstein was not worried or depressed. He rejoiced sincerely at
his friend’s success in his career. One day Albrecht Durer witnessed with great
grief, his friend praying with his folded hands. As a mark of gratitude and
affection, he painted his friend’s ruined hands, displaying the gnarled fingers,
worn and torn with toil, intertwined in prayer, displaying the wrinkles and
other signs of hard manual labour.
The painting displayed the silent and selfless
sacrifice of a true friend who was loving and loyal and was ready to suffer for
the benefit of his loving friend. This famous painting is thus an eloquent
memento of lofty love, brotherhood, friendship, gratitude and sacrifice.
In his farewell
speech to the elders of Ephesus, St. Paul says, “I have shown you in all things
that by working hard in this way we must help the weak, remembering the words
that the Lord Jesus Himself said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than in
receiving’” {Acts 20:35}.
Jesus demonstrated God’s infinite love by suffering
public humiliation, agonizing pain and death on the Cross at Calvary to save
humanity from the clutches of sin.
Jesus taught, “My commandment
is this: love one another, just as I love you. The greatest love a person can
have for his friends is to give his life for them” {John 15:12, 13}. St. John reminds us, “My
children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love,
which shows itself in action” {1 John
3:18}.
……………………………………………………………………
© By: Prof.
Dr. Babu Philip, Former Professor, Cochin University of Science
& Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former
Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally, Leo. S. John, St. Antony's Public
School, Anakkal, Kanjirappally and Neil John, Alfeen Public
School, Kanjirappally, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and
anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit
our web-sites:
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