Who is The Black Rose from Istanbul: Memories and the City and what is their importance?

The Black Rose is the author's first love, who remains unnamed. He had known the Black Rose for several years before they became involved, he was nineteen, she was a few years younger. The Black Rose often went to his studio to watch him paint, and she regularly modeled for him. When her parents discivered their relationship, they tried to end it because they believed that Pamuk would never be anything more than a poor painter. Eventually, the Black Rose's father sent her to school in Switzerland, and he never heard from her again.