Pierre
Chatillon
MARGUERITE and PHILÉDOR BEAUSOLEIL
Philédor Beausoleil, a novel by Pierre Chatillon,
was published in Paris in 1976 by Robert Laffont. For 5 years,
it was featured in the program of the French Department at
the University of Cork in Ireland. It tells the tale of Charles-Auguste
Beausoleil, a farmer on Grand-Saint-Esprit Road, near Nicolet
who one day sets out in search of his wife, who had been carried
off by the North Wind. Despite his 70 years, he forges ahead
to the Pole aboard his snow-blowing tractor, seeking to forever
rid the Earth of cold and death.
At the end of the novel, Charles-Auguste becomes a young
man of 20 again and changes his name to Philédor. He
finds his wife, Marguerite, and after rescuing her from the
hand of the wicked White Lady she also regains her youth.
It is this happy couple that the sculptor has portrayed.
They are accompanied by some of the many legendary characters
who helped them along their rough road to rebirth.
In his outstretched right hand, Philédor holds the
canoe paddled by the lumberjacks of the chasse-galerie. His
tractor, driven by a laughing werewolf, sits at his feet.
On his left shoulder, Jos Montferrand is trying to stop the
sun.
On Marguerite's left shoulder, we find the Beaupré
Giant wearing a tophat and carrying his horse on his shoulder.
The birdcage Marguerite holds in her left hand has been transformed
into a swing for Witch Corriveau, who sits happily, wearing
her raccoon fur coat. To the author, she is no longer a witch,
but a pretty young woman.
This sculpture - made of steel, copper and brass - was created
by Nicolet artist Sébastien Brassard, based on an idea
by Pierre Chatillon. The final coat was applied by Trois-Rivières
artist, Pierre Landry.
It was donated to the Literary Park by the City of Nicolet
in 1999.
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