Isaac Abravanel

Isaac Abravanel was a Jewish moneylender and state official noted for his biblical commentaries and for his efforts to prevent the expulsion of the Jews from Spain, in 1492.

A descendant of an old and distinguished Spanish family, Isaac was born in Lisbon, Portugal. He received religious and secular education, and gained a thorough knowledge in Greek, Latin and Christian literature. Following his father’s path, he built a successful career as merchant and diplomat. He served as treasurer under the Portuguese kings Alfonso V and John II. With the growth of anti-Semitic feelings, he was falsely charged with plotting against the monarchy and compelled to flee to Castille, Spain in 1483. Although determined to devote his time to intellectual work, in 1490 was appointed treasurer to the Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella. That they respected his financial experience is evidenced by the fact that was illegal for a Jew to such a high position in that time. His tax-farming activities brought him considerable fortune. Therefore, he was able to provide a loan of 1,500,000 maravedis to Queen Isabella for the war purposes.

Torquemada, the head of the Spanish Inquisition, in 1492 convinced the royal couple to expel the Jews from Spain. Although Abravanel used all his prestige, influence and wealth to prevent the decree of expulsion, it was without success. He left Spain, and first went to Naples, but the French invasion forced him to flee again. After some years of wandering, he finally settled in Venice in 1503 where he died. He was buried in Padua.

Allegedly, the Panels of St.Vincent painted by the Portuguese artist Nuño Gonçalves present portrait of Abravanel, one of only two known portraits of a medieval Spanish Jew.