Rolinda Sharples (1793-1838): A Pioneer of Genre Painting and Portraiture Rolinda Sharples, a name that might not resonate as loudly as some of her contemporaries, nevertheless occupies an important place in the annals of British art history. Born in Bath in 1793, she emerged from a family deeply rooted in artistic tradition—a lineage that profoundly shaped her life’s trajectory and artistic endeavors. Her father, James Sharples, was a respected portrait painter, establishing himself as one of the foremost artists of his time; Ellen Wallace Sharples, her mother, excelled as a miniaturist, cr…