Sleighing in Quebec City was a scene often depicted in watercolour during this period, so this oil painting is rare. Its date is based on a comparison of the buildings depicted with the scale model of Quebec City constructed by Lieut. Jean-Baptiste Duberger between 1806 and 1808. Heriot, an amateur artist, was a member of the Royal Military Academy. He was posted to Quebec in 1792 and in 1799 was appointed deputy postmaster general of British North America.