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.

[ Back to the park ]