Portrait of Don Francisco (Abraham Israel) Lopes Suasso

Bernard de Jongere Lens

1717

Portrait painting of man wearing long wig, facing viewer, and holding book in left hand, and cloak draped over left arm.
Don Francisco Lopes Suasso (Abraham Israel Suasso, 1657–1710) was born in Amsterdam, the oldest child of wealthy Portuguese Jewish banker Antonio Lopes Suasso. Francisco followed in his father’s footsteps and became a merchant banker. Upon his father’s death, Francisco became Baron of Avernas de Gras, and he also inherited a substantial fortune, including shares in the Dutch East India Company. Francisco married twice. His first wife, Judith Francisco Teixeira, whom he married in Hamburg, died childless in 1689. His second wife, Leonora da Costa, whom he married in The Hague in 1694, bore him seven sons and three daughters. Like his father, Francisco provided services to the Spanish Crown. However, he was also a devoted supporter of William of Orange and held an important position at court. He loaned the Dutch king two million guilders to finance his voyage to London to claim the British throne. Reportedly, the banker refused to accept any collateral for this massive sum, saying: “If you succeed, I know you will repay me; if you do not, I agree to lose the money.” In this miniature portrait, he holds a book with the Suasso coat of arms.

Credits

Collection Jewish Historical Museum, Amsterdam, M003858.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.

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Creator Bio

Bernard de Jongere Lens

1682–1740

Bernard de jongere ("the Younger") Lens, or Bernard Lens III, was the son of Bernard Lens II (1659/60–1725), and the third generation of artists active in England. He mainly worked as a miniature painter and copyist and held an official position as artist at the courts of King George I and King George II.

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