Black Book of Hours, Courtesy of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library. Photography by Kirk Davis Swinehart.
In a world where artistic treasures are constantly at risk from the ravages of time, environmental damage, and neglect, the need for cultural philanthropy has never been more urgent. The TEFAF Museum Restoration Fund (TMRF), established in 2012 by The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF), stands as a beacon of commitment to the preservation of global heritage.
Each year, the TMRF provides critical support to museums undertaking restoration projects of exceptional artistic and cultural significance. The 2025 recipients – the Musée Condé at the Château de Chantilly and the Hispanic Society Museum and Library in New York – highlight the global scope and transformative potential of this initiative.
At the heart of the Musée Condé’s restoration project is the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, often heralded as the ‘Mona Lisa’ of medieval manuscripts. This 15th-century illuminated Book of Hours, painted by the Limbourg brothers and later enhanced by other artists, is both a marvel of craftsmanship and a vital link to Europe’s cultural and religious past. Long hidden from public view due to its fragility and the stipulations of its bequest, the manuscript will be restored and featured in a groundbreaking exhibition that opens on 7 June. With TMRF support, the calendar pages (which are masterpieces in their own right) will be detached for display, offering visitors a rare encounter with one of history’s great artistic achievements.
Across the Atlantic, another manuscript of extraordinary rarity – the Black Book of Hours – is undergoing restoration at the Hispanic Society Museum & Library. Dating from c.1458 and believed to have belonged to Queen Maria of Castile, this manuscript is one of only seven known examples on black-dyed vellum. Its conservation, jointly funded by TMRF and Bank of America’s ‘Art Conservation Project’, addresses structural issues and will culminate in a high-resolution digital archive to increase global access. The project underscores how partnerships between cultural institutions and philanthropic organizations can breathe new life into endangered objects.
These initiatives are more than technical undertakings; they are acts of stewardship that allow the public to reconnect with its shared history. The TMRF's ability to attract both international applications and high-profile sponsors speaks to a broader truth: preserving art is not a passive act of nostalgia, but an active, global responsibility.
Philanthropy in the art world – through direct funding, corporate partnerships, or individual patronage – is crucial. Public institutions often face tight budgets that prioritise operations over conservation. Without external support, many masterpieces would remain unseen, their stories untold, and their lessons lost. As we face ongoing global challenges, the preservation of cultural heritage must remain a collective priority. Initiatives like the TEFAF Museum Restoration Fund remind us that art conservation is not only a matter of protecting objects, but of safeguarding identity, memory, and meaning across generations. In doing so, philanthropy proves itself not merely as charity, but as cultural investment.
