The Nine Choirs of Angels surround Jesus, God the Father, and Mary from BL YT 31, f. 40v

Miniature of the Nine Choirs of Angels. In the central roundel are seated God, Christ, and the Virgin Mary in prayer; they are surrounded by the text of the Sanctus repeated three times. Around this roundel are ranged six angels each in the angelic orders of Cherubim, Seraphim, and Thrones. In the tier below are three angels each from the angelic orders of Dominations, Principalities, and Powers, with the text of the Gloria above their heads, repeated three times. On the lower tier are three angels each from the angelic orders of Virtues, Archangels, and angels, with the text 'Salus deo nostro qui sedet super tronum et agno' above their heads, repeated three times, in Matfré Ermengau of Béziers's Breviari d'Amour. Image taken from f. 40v of Breviari d'Amor (Catalan prose version). Written in Spanish (Catalan), with some Hebrew (ff. 131-134).

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.

matfre ermengau of beziers choirs nine choirs angels jesus god father mary bl yt manuscripts medieval medieval miniatures images of jesus images of angels medieval manuscript british library

1200 - 1450

British Library

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Public Domain