A Portrait of John Dunn Gardner (1811-1908) standing full-length in black with his first wife, Mary Lawson (d. 1851) in a landscape with a dark horse signed lower right 'R. Thorburn / 1851' watercolour on ivory 45 x 33cm Footnote: Exhibited: London, Royal Academy of Arts, 1850, no. 767 as 'J. D. Gardner, Esq., and Mrs. Gardner' (as the latter died in 1851, that date was presumably later added) Condition report: Watercolour on ivory. The support has two horizontal cracks. The painting is poorly supported by the slip and is bowing forward, notably along the top edge. The work is glazed with a wooden backboard. This appears to be creating a microclimate in the frame which is not helping the ivory support. The glazing is suffering from glass disease, causing droplets of water to form on the inside. There is also mould on the reverse of the wooden backboard. Despite the issues with the ivory support the paint layers are beautifully handled and appear to be in a very good, original condition. The wooden frame is slightly bowed in places, but the gilded slips are in a good condition. The painting should be examined and unframed by an expert in conservation of ivory supports.