Charlotte Kestner (1788-1877) was the ninth child of Charlotte Kestner-Buff (1753-1828, no. 10). Born in Hanover, she moved in with her widowed brother in Thann, Alsace, at the age of twenty to care for his children. As an aged woman, she finally moved to Basel to live with her niece Caroline Bischoff-Kestner (1802-1872). The portrait was painted by one of the most important painters of the 19th century: Anselm Feuerbach (1829-1880). The painting was created in the cherry orchard, where Charlotte Kestner spent the winter for many years. As can be gathered from letters and reports, the portrait met with anything but satisfaction from the sitter.