The Praying Hands Durer Summary

The “Praying Hands” was drawn during the Northern Renaissance. It is now located at the Albertina museum in Vienna, Austria for display. It was drawn by a well known artist of the Renaissance period. This artist is none other than German artist, Albrecht Durer of the Northern Renaissance. The Northern Renaissance was a time period in which the ideas of the Italian Renaissance began to spread to Northern Europe. The “Praying Hands” by Albrecht Durer expresses the principles of humanism and realism during the Northern Renaissance

The Northern Renaissance was a period of artistic and social change. According to Ancient World History Patterns of Interactions, the Renaissance revolutionized art. It caused “paintings and sculptures to portray individuals and nature in more realistic and lifelike ways” and also led “arts to praise individual achievement” (Beck, et. al). This implies that there was an emphasis of realism and humanism during the Renaissance. The Renaissance also altered society. “Published accounts of new discoveries, maps, and charts led to further discoveries in a variety of fields”.. On top of this, the creation of the printing press “changed society by making more information available and inexpensive enough for society at large”(Beck, et.

al). This alteration reformed the society and its view. The Renaissance had a legacy in the arts and society of Europe.
Albrecht Durer was an outward and lucid artist who brought the ideas of the Italian Renaissance to Northern Europe. According to Ancient World History Patterns of Interactions, Durer traveled to Italy to study in 1494. After returning to Germany, Durer produced woodcuts and engravings. Many of his prints portrayed religious subjects while others portrayed classical myths or realistic landscapes. (Beck, et. al) Northern European artists who studied in Italy conveyed Renaissance ideas back to their homeland. This explains how Durer was able to spread these ideas through his work. It is stated that Hans Holbein the Younger was a German artist who painted portraits that were almost photographic in detail and was influenced by Durer. (Beck, et. al). Durer’s emphasis upon Renaissance values influenced the work of other artists to express themselves. Albrecht Durer acknowledged the insight of the individual through his art.
The Northern Renaissance created a revival of learning and art throughout its period. In Noble’s account of the Northern Renaissance, she wrote that Renaissance writers wrote literature in the vernacular (Noble). Renaissance writers did this to express their ideas. The expression of ideas during the time period helped artists spread Renaissance styles and techniques. Beck et al. stated that, the printing press created a greater availability of books which prompted an increase desire for learning and a rise in literacy throughout Europe (Beck, et. al).This caused an increase of education in Europe. The Renaissance influenced European thought through its ideas.
Albrecht Durer was influenced by the artistic ideas of Renaissance Italy to Northern Europe. Noble wrote in her account that “Durer studied, admired and was inspired by Italy”so, “he carried his Italian encounters to Germany” (Noble). The account affirms that Durer was impacted by his Italian experiences. In the Encyclopedia of Artists, it is stated that “Along with artists from Italy, Durer strove to perfect the discipline of art and to create images that improved upon variable and therefore imperfect world of nature”(Encyclopedia of Artists). This statement asserts that Durer tried to achieve this along with artists from Italy . This means that he would have had to agreed and acknowledged their artistic thought to do so. The styles and techniques of the Italian Renaissance influenced the German artist, Albrecht Durer.
The drawing “ Praying Hands” drawn by Albrecht Durer reflects the Northern Renaissance principle of realism. According to Albury and Weisz in their report, the hands depicted in “Durer’s drawing are thin, with elongated fingers and trimmed nails”(Albury, Weisz). Realism in art is the depiction of an object or person as they actually are. The drawing was drawn to detail to seem realistic. Albury and Weisz also wrote in their article that “the tendons and veins of the hands in the drawing were exquisitely portrayed”( Albury,Weisz). When they viewed Durer’s drawing, they noticed that these details made the drawing seem lifelike. The way Durer’s drawing was drawn shows that he was aware of the effect that realism was having in art throughout the Renaissance.
Albrecht Durer’s drawing also reflected another Renaissance principle, humanism.
Even though the person whose hands in the drawing are unknown, Rodale argued that they were the hands of Durer’s friend who labored to keep them alive (Rodale).

It is written in the article, that the friend of Durer worked to keep Durer and himself alive. This demonstrates humanism because it presents a problem that humans have and a way they can solve it. According to Albury and Weisz, “Durer’s drawing of the Praying Hands exemplifies humanity by alluding to the new creative spirit of the Renaissance…”(Albury,Weisz). This drawing exemplifies humanism because Durer was interested in life other than religion belief. Humanism during the Renaissance can be viewed in the “Praying Hands” as a new way of thinking of

life.
Praying Hands is a work of art seen everywhere The Northern Renaissance was a period of artistic and social change for Europe. The most important changes of the time period include humanism and realism. Durer drew "Praying Hands" to show the importance of these principles. Each of these principles can be viewed in this drawing from different perspectives. From the detail in the hands to the individual achievement portrayed by the hands, Durer’s work of art can be understood as a reflection of the Northern Renaissance values.