Detail: Fall from BL YT 20, f. 1

Tree of the Knowledge, and the serpent encourages Adam and Eve to eat the fruit, at the beginning of the Bible Historiale. Image taken from f. 1 of Bible Historiale, 1st part (Genesis-Maccabees). Written in French.

Henry Yates Thompson (1838-1928) was a British collector and philanthropist who assembled this remarkable collection over his lifetime. The collection is now housed at the British Library in London.

Henry Yates Thompson was born into a wealthy family in 1838. Thompson began collecting manuscripts and other items in the 1870s. His collection quickly gained recognition for its exceptional quality and breadth. He had a keen eye for illuminated manuscripts, which are manuscripts decorated with intricate illustrations and calligraphy. The collection has a particular emphasis on medieval manuscripts.

petrus comestor index peter comestor translated by guiart des moulins index guyart des moulins detail fall bl yt manuscripts medieval bible genesis adam and eve eve adam french manuscripts old testament garden of eden bible historiale france british library

1200 - 1500

British Library

http://europeana.eu/

Public Domain