The Right Choice
This is a story from the fifteenth century. There was a tiny village near Nuremberg, Germany. The Durers, a family with 18 children, lived there. The father was a goldsmith. He worked 18 hours a day to provide food for his family.
Two of the Durers’ children had a dream. Their names were Albert and Albrecht. They both wanted to study art. But the father didn’t have enough money to send them to the academy.
After many long talks, the two boys worked out an arrangement. They would toss a coin. Albrecht said, “If I lose, I’ll go down in the mines. With my earnings, I’ll support you while you attend the academy for four years. When you complete your studies, you’ll support me with the sales of your artwork. If necessary, you will work in the mines.”
They tossed a coin. Albrecht Durer won and went to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines. For the next four years, he paid for his brother. Everyone at the academy liked Albrecht’s work. He made etchings, woodcuts, and oil paintings. They were better than those of most of his professors. By the time he graduated, he was earning a lot of money for his works.
When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family had a celebration dinner. After the meal, Albrecht stood up from the table. He made a toast to his brother. His brother’s hard work had allowed Albrecht to become an artist. His final words were, “And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to follow your dream. I will take care of you.”
Everyone looked at Albert. Albert had tears on his face. He shook his head and cried. Over and over, he repeated, “No… no… no… no.”
Finally, Albert stood up. He wiped the tears and said: “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. I have been suffering from arthritis. I cannot make delicate lines on paper or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother, for me it is too late.”
In order to honor Albert’s sacrifice, Albrecht Durer drew his brother's injured hands. They are drawn with palms together and fingers stretched up to the sky. He called his powerful drawing simply Hands. The entire world soon opened their hearts to his great masterpiece. They renamed his painting of love Praying Hands.
Note: Albrecht Durer is a famous artist, but there is no historical confirmation for this inspiring story. It appears to have been recently invented.