Nathaniel Brown (fl.1742-1771) Portrait of the Reverend Mr Simpson of Coventry, half length, in clerical robes, in a library; Portrait of his wife, seated half length, in a brown dress, white lace bonnet and holding roses a pair, one inscribed 'Nathl. Brown pinxit 1742', the other 'N Brown pinxit 1742', oil on canvas 91 x 71cm (2) Condition report: Both paintings are in oil on canvas and are unlined. The edges of the canvas on the portrait of a Gentleman are failing, the canvas has lost tension. There is a large tear at the lower edge with a surrounding deformation. The portrait of a Lady also has smaller tears and punctures to the canvas; one at the top edge has been repaired from the reverse with a canvas patch. The paint layers on both works have areas of raised, flaking paint in the lower sections with scattered losses. The thicker passages of paint flesh have developed networks of age cracks which appear very dark. The varnish layers have degraded, as well as becoming dark and yellowed the varnish is also losing saturation and turning opaque, this is evident in the gentleman’s jacket.