Genius of Illumination

Visitors to the British Library from November will be treated to a sumptuous display of medieval and Renaissance illuminated manuscripts, assembled by, or relating to, kings and queens of England between the 9th and 16th centuries.

The exhibition, which is accompanied by a new BBC Four series, The Private Lives of Medieval Kings, is based in part on the ‘Old Royal Library’ – the book and manuscript collection gathered by English monarchs from Edward IV until George II. In 1757, George donated the library to the British Museum (the collection went on to become a key part of the British Library).

Among the objects on display is a collection of 17 illuminated manuscripts that once belonged to Edward IV and The Shrewsbury Book, presented to Margaret of Anjou on her marriage to Henry VI by John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, and particularly celebrated for its monumental frontispiece images.

Royal Manuscripts: The Genius of Illumination is on display at the British Library, London, from 11 November 2011–13 March 2012. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the British Library website.

Take a look at some of our other galleries, including the launch of Titanic and pioneers of polar exploration at www.historyextra.com/feature/galleries