Author Description

Sir Denis Mahon's studies on 17th-century Italian art are an unquestionable asset for international scholarship. Four years from his passing, the nature and development of Mahon's long work survive as memories that Italy is called to acknowledge and cherish as a prized possession. From the 1930s onwards--with only a short break during the war--Mahon constantly visited cities, museums, art exhibitions, scholars, collectors and antique dealers in Italy. Few foreign art historians have followed the events related to Italian art history as closely as Mahon--from the point of view both of ongoing research and management of the country's cultural heritage, including restorations. The passing years in no way weakened his interest or ability to acquire information, explore matters and benefit others through his advice. Behind all this lies Mahon's remarkable commitment to his profession as an art historian. This aspect, however, is part of Italy's heritage and the present exhibition is designed to celebrate it. Indeed, the exhibition springs from Mahon's own plans. In the last years of his life, Mahon had been planning an exhibition to present some of the exemplary cases that had marked his career as a scholar. What has now taken the form of a respectful and heartfelt tribute was originally conceived as a further assessment, which would extend the method that Mahon had followed as a beacon throughout his life: the viewing and comparing of paintings.