Pierre Joseph Verhaghen (1728-1811)

• Was a Flemish painter of large-scale religious and mythological scenes.
• Pieter-Jozef Verhaghen was born in Aarschot on 19 March 1728.
• Grandfather and father Verhaghen belonged to the notables of the city and practised as surgeons.
• The two sons of the family become painters. Jan-Jozef Verhaghen, older brother of Pieter-Jozef, is known in the history of 18th century painting as Potteke (little pot) Verhaghen.
• When Van den Kerckhoven saw his drawings immediately recognized the boy's artistic talent and convinced father Willem Verhaghen to let his son study the principles of painting.
• The young Verhaghen stayed with Van den Kerckhoven and travelled with him to other cities nearby working on decorations and restorations.
• In 1744 he moved to Antwerp where he continued his training with Balthasar Beschey.
• In 1749, he was summoned to Leuven where brewer Guilliam Vrancx asked him to decorate the salons of his house. 
• Not long after his move to Leuven, Verhaghen met and fell in love with Johanna Hensmans, the daughter of a brandy distiller.
• He stayed in Leuven where the couple were married in 1753.
• Seven children were the issue of this marriage.
• In 1754 the artist became formally a citizen of Leuven.
• In May 1771 Verhaghen was made the ordinary painter of Prince Charles Alexander of Lorraine.

• After suffering a stroke in 1809, the artist was no longer to work in the last years of his life.

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