Scenes from the life of the Virgin from BL YT 3, f. 37

Detail of three scenes from the early life of the Virgin Mary (from top to bottom): the betrothal of the Virgin to Joseph, the presentation of the Virgin in the temple, and the birth of the Virgin. Image taken from f. 37 of Book of Hours, Use of Rome ('The Dunois Hours'). Written in Latin, with a French calendar.

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.