the stalls from the saint-lucien-de-beauvais abbey

These stalls were commissioned in 1492 by Abbot Antoine du Bois for the Saint-Lucien-de-Beauvais Abbey.
The bench ends depict scenes from the Life of St Lucien, the patron saint of the Abbey and of saint Anthony, patron saint of the abbot Antoine du Bois. The abbot, commissioner for the stalls, is also shown praying in front of the saint.
In contrast, the seats are decorated with a wide variety of scenes, many of which are profane.

In the Middle Ages, cathedrals and collegiate and abbatial churches had to hold a great many clergy who assembled in them seven times a day for the divine offices. A particularly careful seating system allowed all members of the clergy to assemble at once.
The monks and canons, who had to stand for most of the services, were able to lean back on the small ledges on the underside of the folding seats to ease their legs. The ledges are called misericords, or mercy seats, because rest was a great mercy granted by God.