Creation of the World from BL YT 19, f. 5

Miniature of the Creation of the World, decorated initial 'L'(I), and three-sided border, in Brunetto Latini's Le Livre du Trésor. Image taken from f. 5 of Li Livres dou Tresor. 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.