The Praying Hands.

Around 1490 two young friends, Albrecht Durer and Franz Knigstein, were struggling young artists. Since both were poor, they worked to support themseleves while they studied art.

Work took so much of their time and advancement was slow. Finally, they reached an agreement: The would draw lots, and one of them would work to support both of them while the other would study art. Albrect won and began to study, while Franz worked at hard labour to suppor them. They agreed that when Albrecht was successful he would support Franz who would then study art.

Albrecht went off to the cities of Europe to study. As the world now knows, he had not only talent but genius. When he had attained succss, he went back to keep his bargain with Franz. But Albrecht soon discovered the enormous price his friend had paid. For as Franz worked at hard manual labour to support his friend, his fingers had become stiff and twisted. His slender, sensitive hands had been ruined for life. He could no longer execute the delicate brush strokes necessary to fine painting. Though his artistic dreams could never be realized, he was not embittered but rather rejoiced in his friend's success.

One day Durer came upon his friend unexpectedly and found him kneeling with his gnarled hands intertwined in prayer, quietly praying for the success of his friend although he himself could no longer be an artist. Albrecht Durer, the great genius, hurriedly sketched the folded hands of his faithful friend and later completed a truly great masterpiece known as 'The Praying Hands'.

Today art galleries everywhere feature Albrecht Durer's works, and this particular masterpiece tells an eloquent story of love, sacrifice, labor and gratitude.