Ellen Sharples

I went to an exhibition of the permanent collection of the Royal West of England Academy. The gallery is closed at present for mending and improvements - so the exhibition is in the church next door. 
This portrait of Ellen Sharples was painted by her daughter Rolinda Sharples. Have you heard of her? No, neither had I. She (Ellen) exhibited her paintings at the Royal Academy in London. She specialised in portraits and miniatures.  She was one of the group of people who set up the RWA, and she provided much of the money for the beautiful building that houses it. She lived from 1769 to 1849, and this was painted when she was about 70.  She was creative and dynamic and generous. I think she looks lovely. 
I’ve recently been rewatching the BBC 1994 version of Middlemarch - set in around 1830 -  which is fantastic.  I think she looks very much like a character in that.