Portrait of Betsie Jessurun de Mesquita-Pinédo
De Mesquita’s wife Betsie was a beloved subject and therefore appears frequently in his work. She was born Elisabeth Pinedo. Because of their Sephardic, almost noble, background, Samuel and Betsie believed they were in less danger and did not go into hiding. After being arrested, they were deported to Auschwitz and murdered on the same day shortly upon arriving there.
Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita