Discover how one of the National Library's treasures - a magnificent fifteenth-century Book of Hours from the Southern Netherlands (Clifford 9) - was created by hand. Through this remarkable manuscript, Gemma Black reveals the craft of the medieval scriptorium, exploring the tools, materials and techniques that transformed parchment & vellum into works of enduring beauty.

Learn how pigments were mixed using everyday ingredients such as egg, how pages were ruled and written with extraordinary precision, how gatherings were sewn into robust bindings, and why these precious books have survived for almost six centuries. This is a fascinating glimpse into the artistry, ingenuity and craftsmanship behind one of the Middle Ages' greatest achievements.

About Gemma Black

Gemma Black is a distinguished calligrapher, arts practitioner, and independent scholar based in Canberra. Her practice focuses on the creation of formal documents on vellum and fine art paper, heraldic works, book inscriptions, and calligraphic pieces for citations, certificates, and related commissions. Drawing on more than thirty years of teaching, research, and professional practice, she lectures widely and is regularly invited to speak on the art, history, and craftsmanship of lettering and the book arts.

A Churchill Fellow and Fellow of the Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society (UK), Gemma's work is represented in collections including Parliament House Canberra, the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge (UK), the European Parliament, the Museum for International Calligraphy in Moscow, and Stanford University Libraries (USA). Through her research, teaching, and engagement with cultural collections, she is committed to sharing the rich traditions of the written word and helping preserve the legacy of handwritten artefacts for future generations.

This event is sponsored by Friends of the National Library