Sculptuur van Daniël in het leeuwenhol en een sculptuur van de heilige Alexius, van gekleurd eikenhout, opgesteld op een tentoonstelling over religieuze objecten uit de middeleeuwen en renaissance in 1864 in Mechelen 1864

These sculptures of Daniel in the lions' den, and Saint Alexius, are made of colored oak. Photographed by Joseph Maes, they were displayed at an exhibition in Mechelen in 1864. The choice of oak has significance. A dense, strong wood, it speaks to the enduring faith of the figures represented, and the tradition of religious sculpture. Consider the labor involved in carving these figures, the skill of the artist to reveal these forms from within the wood. Each cut and curve would have been carefully planned and executed. The 'coloring' would have involved the application of pigment, and perhaps gilding, all requiring specialist expertise. These were not mass-produced items, but devotional objects, carefully crafted for a specific context. By understanding the process of their making, we can truly appreciate their cultural value.