Sculpted bench (detail)

Verhaegen’s best works are in the Church of St John in Mechelen. The two benches of the churchwardens, situated near the pillars of the presbytery, are decorated with splendid bas-reliefs, especially the southern bench. The northern bench features scenes from the life of Christ. The quality of this work is lower which might be because the master suffered from a nervous disease and had to leave the work to his pupils.

The picture shows a detail of the bas-reliefs of the southern bench. It depicts St John the Evangelist.