Four Winds and Angel from BL YT 10, f. 11v

Miniature of angels holding the four winds (beasts' heads) at the four corners of the earth, from Revelation 7:1-2; miniature of an angel with red wings, holding a staff with a red cross, from Revelation 7:3. Image taken from f. 11v of Apocalypse (Revelation). 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.