This beautiful late 18th-century portrait depicts a young lady holding forget-me-nots.Exquisitely attired in a lavish pink dress, she’s the personification of elegance. In her right hand, a small posy of forget-me-nots, a symbol of enduring love and devotion.The inclusion of flowers in Tischbein’s portraits was designed to communicate the characteristics of the sitter. Roses are frequently seen, as they convey love, but forget-me-nots are less obvious so were probably requested by the lady herself. They relate to a German story of chivalry involving a knight and his beloved.Legend has it that, while the pair were strolling alongside a river, the lady noticed a delicate spray of blue flowers, which were about to be dragged under and lost forever. Raising her concerns, the knight dived into the water to save them but was swept to his death as a result. Realising his fate, he called out ‘forget me not’ (in German) before disappearing from view. Distraught, the mournful lady ch...