Art and heritage
Pierre Morel is considered one of the oldest artists in Lozère. The master builder, originally from Majorca, directed the construction of the cathedral of Mende. It is said that he even took on some of the most difficult tasks himself. Blaise Mercier, woodcarver, came to contribute to the building around 1680, by shaping the stalls of the cathedral. His peers, Pascal, Joseph Abounenc and Pagès, were responsible for the pulpit and the great Christ.
The 17th century saw the rise of two decorative painters, both settled in Mende: Antoine Besnard and Jean Lacour. They worked in particular in the castle of Chanac and in the churches of Balsièges, Badaroux and Saint-Bauzile. Their work, however, did not pass through the centuries without trouble: most of their creations were destroyed or erased over the years.
Painters
Jeanne Bourrillon-Tournay is a little known portrait painter of the Belle Époque. Born in 1867, she was the wife of Maurice Bourrillon, a member of parliament. She lived in Mende and painted many portraits in her house on the Boulevard des Capucins. Her paintings, of a worldly nature, are distinguished by their pearly sheen.
After her, it was Victorien Galière, teacher and son of a farmer, who showed great talent in painting. Exhibited in Paris from 1945, his work reflects his vacations in Le Born in Lozère, the landscapes of the country and the familiar objects he found there. His work is now the property of the Conseil départemental, which is responsible for preserving the collections of the Société des lettres, sciences et arts de la Lozère
A new museum space
The city of Mende is also the custodian of 16,000 museum objects, covering a period from the first traces of life to the present century. Closed since 1995, the Ignon-Fabre Museum, which is currently undergoing a major renovation, should allow the general public to discover some of these collections. Renamed Musée du Gévaudan, and labeled Musée de France, it should reopen at the end of 2022
It will be 1,200m2 in size and will be divided into three levels. The first floor, open to the territory, will be free access, with introductory and shared spaces, including a Center for the Interpretation of Architecture and Heritage (CIAP) - Pays d'Art et d'Histoire Mende et Lot-en-Gévaudan. The second floor will be dedicated to the permanent exhibition dedicated to the territory and its history, to the arts and especially to contemporary creation. While the second floor will host temporary exhibitions. Located in the heart of the historic center of Mende, this artistic component is part of a larger heritage, urban and architectural project, which aims to transmit culture to as many people as possible
