Giving up Something for Love

The Story of Albrecht Durer

Ask pupils if they know what the word 'sacrifice' means.

Can they think of any examples in their own lives? For example, does mum give up her share of a favourite food so that they can have extra?  Perhaps mum and dad go without a holiday so that their child can go on a school journey.

Show a picture of Durer's Praying Hands.

Tell the story of his friend's sacrifice - see below.

At Easter Christians remember the enormous sacrifice Jesus made by dying on the cross. The Bible explains that it was to take the punishment for all the bad things that people do so that everyone who believes in him can go to heaven. Christians believe he gave up his life as an act of love for the world.

The Story of Albrecht Durer

Please note there are different versions of this 'legend' -some say it was Durer’s brother and some that it was a friend. Year 3 & 5 are looking at the difference between myths and legends in Literacy this term.

A long time ago in the country of Germany there lived two friends. Their names were Franz (Knigstein) and Albrecht. Both the friends loved to draw and paint.  They both dreamt of becoming famous artists one day and imagined their paintings hanging in fine places.

The two friends were very poor.  They both knew that it would cost a lot of money to go to art school to learn how to paint properly.

One day Franz had an idea. He said to his friend Albrecht, ‘We could take turns to go to art school.  I will go to work first so that I can pay for you to learn how to paint.’  And that is exactly what he did.  Franz worked very hard to earn enough money to pay for the school and all their food and clothes as well. Albrecht studied very hard and he learned how to be an excellent artist.

Many years later, Albrecht sold some of his best paintings for a lot of money. He hurried round to see his friend to tell him the good news. ‘My dear friend Franz, thank you so much for working hard all these years to pay for me to go to art school.  Now I am a good painter and I have enough money to pay for you to go to art school. It’s your turn to go!’

Franz looked down at his hands.  They were old and worn and twisted. So old in fact, that he knew that he would not be able to hold the small brushes and pencils. ‘I won’t be able to go,’ he said.  ‘My hands are too old and stiff.’

Ask the children how they think Franz felt.  Sad?  Angry?  Jealous?

A few weeks later Albrecht went to visit Franz again.  He found his dear old friend on his knees with his hands together, praying. He was talking to God and saying thank you for Albrecht’s wonderful paintings. He said thank you to God for making Albrecht such a brilliant artist.  He wasn’t cross at all. He was happy for his friend. He was glad that he had made the sacrifice of going to work for years and years so that his friend was able to learn how to paint.

Albrecht painted a picture showing his friend’s knobbly, old hands.

Could you love someone enough to give up so much for them?

The Bible says that God loves all of us even more than that. Christians believe that is why he sent his son, Jesus, into the world. God knew that people would not be kind to Jesus but he still wanted Jesus to come to show how very much he loves us.