Bente Scavenius

Bente Christina Brønnum Scavenius (born 12 December 1944, in Stockholm) is a Danish art historian, art critic and author. She has taught at the University of Copenhagen and Aarhus University, and has written more than 20 books. She has also been a member of numerous public and private committees and boards of directors of cultural institutions in Denmark.

She is the daughter of land owner Carl Christian Brønnum Scavenius, who owned Klintholm Gods, and a relative of former Prime Minister Erik Scavenius. She is married to actor Joen Bille (of the noble Bille family), who is a son of Irene Ibsen Bille and a descendant of Henrik Ibsen, Sigurd Ibsen and Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. She is the mother of actress Beate Bille.

Scavenius has a mag.art. degree in history of art.

Honours and awards

2012 – Order of the Dannebrog 2003 – Ingeniør B Sunds kulturpris 2002 – Ole Haslunds Hæderslegat 1997 – Den Danske Publicistklubs jubilæumslegat 1998 – Ørelæge Valdemar Klein og Hustru Læge Johanne Kleins Legat 1995 – Møn-Prisen 1994 – Denmark's candidate for Europe's Women's Prize 1992 – Rosenkjærprisen 1991 – H.K.H. Prinsens Fond 1984 – Ole Haslunds Kunstnerfond