Sir Denis Mahon Prize 2026: call for young scholars published

The City of Cento has published the call for papers for the second edition of the International Essay Prize named after Sir Denis Mahon, renewing the link between the Emilian city and the English scholar, who was its honorary citizen. The initiative is promoted through the Centro Studi Internazionale Il Guercino, an institution based in the hometown of the Baroque painter Guercino, a central figure in Mahon’s scholarly interests.

The prize, established in 2010 by friends and collaborators of the art historian, has undergone a new phase since 2025, when management passed from the Sir Denis Mahon Foundation to the Cento Study Center. The move from London Cento represents a step aimed at ensuring continuity in the promotion of art-historical research, with a focus on young scholars and the areas of inquiry favored by Mahon.

The announcement includes the awarding of a scholarship worth 2,000 euros, made possible thanks to the support of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Cento. The award will be given to the author of the essay considered most important for its quality and adherence to the British scholar’s scientific interests. The main focus is on the 17th century, with reference to the work of Guercino, his school and artists such as Annibale Carracci, Caravaggio and Nicolas Poussin. However, the call also contemplates research related to the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as contributions on modern and contemporary artists, in keeping with the breadth of Mahon’s interests.

Participation is restricted to undergraduate and young graduate students who are under 35 years of age at the time of essay submission and who are enrolled or have completed a postgraduate degree. Only unpublished papers, written in Italian or English, that have never been published in either print or digital format, including websites, blogs and social networks, are eligible.

Sir Denis Mahon Prize 2026: call for young scholars published

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