American Friends of  Chartres - Servane de Layre-Matheus Fund

The Servane de Layre-Mathéus Fund for Research on Chartres Cathedral

The American Friends of Chartres has established a special fund honoring the memory of Servane de Layre-Mathéus (1939-2020), co-founder of Chartres--Sanctuaire du Monde, of the Centre International du Vitrail, and of American Friends of Chartres. Servane dedicated much of her life to the preservation of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres, and to the pursuit and transmission of knowledge of medieval art, culture, and spirituality. In recognition of her contributions, she was made chevalier of the Légion d’honneur, officier des Arts et des Lettres, and officier de l’ordre national du Mérite. The fund is intended to support research that furthers her work.

ANNUAL GRANT PROGRAM

The American Friends of Chartres annually offers a stipend of  $2,500.00 to current graduate students and emerging scholars to carry out research projects that promise to advance knowledge and understanding of the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres or its historical contexts in the medieval to early modern periods. The grants support projects requiring on-site research in Chartres. Topics in the fields of art history, history, or related disciplines might include architecture, stained glass, sculpture, urban development, economy, religious practices, manuscripts, or the cathedral treasury, among other topics. Following the research project, the grantee is asked to provide a synopsis of the research and conclusions, which will be publicized through the cultural activities and website of the American Friends of Chartres. 

The American Friends of Chartres facilitates lodging in Chartres for grant recipients, as well as access to the cathedral, the Centre International du Vitrail, the municipal library, archival collections and related resources.

Questions about the grant may be addressed to ChartresResearchGrant@gmail.com.

To learn more about the American Friends of Chartres, visit https://www.friendsofchartres.org/

CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR 2024

Deadline: March 29, 2024

Applicants should currently be pursuing a Ph.D. or have received the degree within the last six years. 

Applicants should supply:

1. A description of up to 500 words of the proposed project, including:

·      questions to be researched and their importance to scholarship on the art, culture, or history of Chartres;

·      requirements for access to monuments, works of art, and archival resources;

·      projected length of time and tentative dates to be spent in Chartres;

·      expectations for publication of conclusions, whether alone or as part of a larger project, including a dissertation, article, or book.

2. A current Curriculum Vitae

3. Names and contact information of two references 

Please send application materials as e-mail attachments in Word or PDF format to ChartresResearchGrant@gmail.com