Bente Scavenius (born 1944) is a Danish art historian, critic and author who completed her mag.art. in art history at the University of Copenhagen in 1981. She has written more than 20 books on subjects ranging from the Danish Golden Age to garden art, and is one of the country's most recognisable art communicators, known to a wide public through DR television programmes such as 'Danmarks bedste portrætmaler' and 'Verdensdamerne'. Her awards include the Rosenkjær Prize (1992), the N.L. Høyen Medal (2004), the 15. Juni Fonden Art Critic Prize (2022) and the Ny Carlsberg Foundation Honorary Grant (2026).
Bente Scavenius received the Ny Carlsberg Foundation Honorary Grant 2026 at an award ceremony at the Glyptotek in Copenhagen on March 11, 2026; the grant is 400,000 kr.
Scavenius participated in a conversation about art in 2026 at the Folkemødet, organized by the Ny Carlsberg Foundation.
Scavenius was highlighted as 'Author of the Month' by the Danish Authors Association in June 2024.
Bente Scavenius received the June 15 Foundation Art Critic Prize for 50 years as an active reviewer and art critic.
