Bertrand was convicted of the murder of Henry Kinder, who died on 2 October 1865, in one of Sydney's most notorious homicide cases of the time. Bertrand served a 28 year prison sentance, most of which was spent at Darlinghurst Gaol.
This watercolour was accompanied by plans of Darlinghurst Gaol and titled 'watercolour drawings by H. Bertrand, Darlinghurst 7-12-91'.