Wilhelm der Eroberer und Wilhelm Rufus aus BL YT 33, f. 176

Detail of a miniature of the funeral of William the Conqueror in the Abbaye aux hommes at Caen; on the right, a miniature of Lanfranc crowning William Rufus before a watching group of men, from the Grande Chronique de Normandie. Image taken from f. 176 of Grande Chronique de Normandie. 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.