Content Warning: This section discusses murder and death and mentions the Holocaust.

Gabriel is the protagonist of A Death in Cornwall, as well as the other books in the Gabriel Allon series. On his website, Silva says Gabriel is a “beautiful name, and it is filled with much religious and historical symbolism. Gabriel is the mightiest of God’s angels and His most important messenger” (“Portrait of a Spy: Behind the Series.” Daniel Silva). Silva’s angel is known for his “jade-colored eyes” and for being the “former director-general of Israel’s secret intelligence service” (91, 105). He left this position after a bomb severely injured his first wife and killed their son. Then, Gabriel became the director of the Tiepolo Restoration Company. He describes himself as “an art conservator. But in [his] spare time, [he helps] the police solve art-related crimes” (230). He speaks a variety of languages, including German, French, and Italian, in addition to English.

Gabriel is a talented artist as well as a talented spy. Ingrid asks him, “So how good are you, Mr. Allon?” (109), and he replies, “With a paintbrush? Better than I am with a gun” (109).