Prince Andrej and Prince Dimitri from BL YT 51, f. 24v

Miniature of Prince Dimitri of Briansk and his brother, Prince Andrej of Pelotzk coming before the Grand Duke Dmitri. Image taken from f. 24v of Skazanie o Mamaevom Poboishche (the Tale of the Rout of Mamai). Written in Russian Church Slavonic.

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.