Photograph of Dr Sutherland (1808-1891) and Sir Robert Rawlinson (1810-1898) of the Sanitary Commission. Dr Sutherland is sitting on the edge of a table to the left, facing right and with his hands clasped on his lap. He is wearing a long tweed coat and a cap. Robert Rawlinson is sitting to the right on a chair which is covered with an animal fur. He is facing left with his legs crossed and his right arm resting on the table in front of him. The table is covered by a cloth and a number of books and papers. There is a plain wall behind them with a curtain to the left.

Dr Sutherland and Sir Robert Rawlinson, a civil engineer, were the leading force behind the Sanitary Commission sent by the War Office to improve the conditions of the Crimean War hospitals. Through a series of basic measures the Commission succeeded in improving the standard of hygiene at the hospitals and reducing the death rate.