Black Book of Hours: Rare Book of the Week

This week's focus is on the Horae beatae marie secundum usum curie romane better known as the Black Book of Hours which has been awarded conservation funding from the the TEFAF Museum Restoration Fund and Bank of America’s Art Conservation Project.

Books of hours on vellum stained with black ink or painted with black pigment are very rare, and consequently it is among the most important items in the manuscript collection of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library in Washington Heights in New York City. Presented to the Hispanic Society in 1933, it is currently on view at TEFAF New York running through May 13 at the Park Avenue Armory.

Dating from around 1458, the Black Book of Hours is one of only seven known illuminated manuscripts on black-colored vellum. This volume probably belonged to Maria of Castile, Queen of Alfonso V of Aragón, possibly an offering of bereavement presented on the death of her husband in 1458. The unknown artist is thought to have been Flemish.

The conservation treatment aims to allieviate excessive pressure on the volume’s structure exerted by its tight, 19th-century blue Morocco leather binding whenever the book is examined or exhibited, and will involve the careful disbinding of the 149 folios. The process will include a comprehensive condition assessment looking at losses, tears, and areas of bloom. High-resolution photography of each page will enable wider access the object without physical handling.

“The Black Book of Hours serves as a tangible connection to the past, embodying the artistic and historical narratives that the Society seeks to celebrate and share,” said Dr. John O’Neill, Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books at the Hispanic Society Museum & Library. “Its restoration not only preserves the physical artifact but also reinforces the Society's commitment to cultural education and heritage preservation.”