The Amsterdam Residence of Jeronimo Nunes da Costa (Mazes Curiël)

The wealthy merchant and diplomat Jeronimo Nunes da Costa (Mozes Curiël) was born in Florence in 1620. In 1627, his family settled in Hamburg, where his father, a businessman, became an important member of the Portuguese community. Jeronimo studied at Heidelberg University. Subsequently, in 1642, his father sent him to Amsterdam to supervise the family’s business interests. Jeronimo spent the rest of his life in Amsterdam, although he never became a citizen of the city. He was appointed agent to the Portuguese Crown in 1645, a position that he held until his death, and in 1646 he was given a noble title. As Portuguese agent, Jeronimo shipped weapons, gunpowder, military supplies, and grain to Portugal. He also represented the Portuguese Brazil Company in Holland, importing brazilwood and other Brazilian products. In his private business affairs, Jeronimo traded mainly with Portugal and its empire. He imported figs, almonds, tobacco, diamonds, and pearls, and jewelry. Jeronimo, a prominent member of Amsterdam’s Portuguese Jewish community, donated funds to the building of the Portuguese Synagogue and was a patron of Hebrew scholarship. In 1686 he purchased two plots on Nieuwe Herengracht, moving into his new home one year later.