Raising of Lazarus from BL YT 30, f. 82v

Detail of a miniature of the Raising of Lazarus, at the beginning of the Office of the Dead. Image taken from f. 82v of Book of Hours ('The Hours of Laudomia de' Medici'). Written in Latin.

The Raising of Lazarus is a story from the New Testament, recorded in the Gospel of John (John 11:1-45). According to the story, Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, had fallen ill and died. When Jesus arrived in Bethany four days after Lazarus' death, he was approached by Lazarus' sisters, Mary and Martha, who told him of their brother's death and asked him to come to their home to heal him.

When Jesus arrived at the tomb where Lazarus was buried, he commanded that the stone be removed, and then he prayed to God. After his prayer, he called out to Lazarus, who came back to life and stepped out of the tomb. The raising of Lazarus was a significant event in the life of Jesus and was seen as a powerful demonstration of his divine power and the fulfillment of his mission as the Son of God. The scene is often shown with Jesus standing at the tomb, with Lazarus rising from the dead, with Mary and Martha looking on in amazement.

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.