[1] John was at first trained in his father's counting-house, but preferred art and travelled to London in 1818 where he was admitted into the Royal Academy.

Jane Graham-Gilbert died on 22 March 1877, and left dozens of artworks to Glasgow, including work by Rembrandt.

His widow Jane Graham-Gilbert, who died in 1877, bequeathed to the Corporation Galleries of Art at Glasgow a small collection left to her by her husband, together with a number of his own pictures, totalling 70 paintings.

These include works by Palma Vecchio, Gaspard Dughet, Paris Bordone and Dutch masters such as Rembrandt, Johannes Lingelbach, Nicolaes Eliasz.

Pickenoy, Philips Wouwerman, Willem van de Velde the Younger and Ludolf Bakhuizen that are considered highlights of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.