This book is a paean to the Beast of Gévaudan. The text is by Jean Richard and the illustrations by Lucien Gires.
In it, you will of course find a host of images, sketches and anecdotes about the Beast of Gévaudan, but also much about Jean Richard, Lucien Gires (familiarly known locally as 'Lulu') and the fantastic museum of the Beast at Saugues.
Throughout his life Lucien Gires was the driving force behind a number of associations. His artistic and organizational skills were in constant demand, as evidenced by the 'Beast of Gévaudan' float, decorated with flowers, which he created for the festival of Saint-Médard in 1964, for instance. But his enduring legacy has been the two associations which he founded personally, 'Les Amis de la Tour' and 'Macbet'.
This work's primary intention is to bear witness to the diversity and wide range of Lulu's graphic output in his depictions of the Beast.
As for Jean Richard , he is a recognized authority on the Beast, unsparing of his time and effort and always ready to give a lecture here, an exhibition there, not to mention his visits to sites connected with the Beast.
This work should be seen as a kind of an extensive catalogue - though, as Jean Richard himself would readily admit ,even he could not compile a totally exhaustive one - of Lulu's talents in design, illustration and sculpture, the most complete account possible of the essence of his artistic output.
Year of publication of the presented edition : 2013 (93 pages)
Editor : Les Amis de la Tour
It costs €20 + €6 p.&p. (Cheques should be made payable to « Les Amis de la Tour »)
Available to order from Blandine Gires, route du Malzieu - 43170 - Saugues - France
The author :
Lucien Gires (1937-2002) is a painter and sculptor from the Saugues region. This autodidact devoted his life and his work to depicting landscapes and rural scenes. He also enjoyed depicting religious subjects. The one everyone nicknamed "Lulu", is the painter of the memory of the city. However, he did not consider himself an artist, but a simple craftsman and art was for him a simple passion. One of his ultimate works is the Museum of the Beast of Gevaudan which opened in 1999. This museum traces the story of the Beast which terrorised the local population between 1764 and 1767.