Charles E. Beckett (1814-1867) an owner and operator of two apothecaries in Portland, painted this winter scene, which carries the notation: "Dr. Summer Cummings taking the mail from Portland to...". Similar images Beckett created in the 1840s show landscapes from the Portland and Cape Elizabeth region. Other paintings depict New Hampshire and western Maine landscapes.

In the 2018 publication "Painting Portland", authors stated that Portland Transcript editor, Edward Henry Elwell (1825-1890), who reported on artistic endeavors around Portland, said Beckett was the first Maine artist to attain distinction and was known for his renderings of horses.

New Hampshire's Mount Washington is visible in the background of the landscape.