This charming miniature watercolour by Willard Morse Mitchell (1879–1955) is titled “The Little Red Sleigh, Dominion Square, Montreal.” It captures a quintessential winter moment in early 20th-century Montreal, painted in Mitchell’s recognisable small format and accompanied by his printed authentication label on the reverse.

The scene depicts a horse-drawn red sleigh gliding through the snow-covered streets of Dominion Square (now Dorchester Square) in Montreal. A driver dressed in dark winter attire guides the horse through a softly lit landscape, where bare trees frame the composition in delicate blue and brown washes. In the distance rises the Basilica of St. James (Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral)—its grand dome modelled after St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome—rendered in pale lavender tones that blend harmoniously with the sky’s cool pastel hues.

Mitchell’s handling of watercolour is precise yet expressive: his fine brushwork and restrained palette evoke the stillness and clarity of a crisp winter afternoon. The striking red sleigh provides a vivid focal point against the quiet blues and whites, while scattered figures and touches of red in the background lend rhythm and warmth to the composition.

The printed label affixed to the back reads:

“THE LITTLE RED SLEIGH.

Showing a bit of winter at the well-known Dominion Square, Montreal P.Q.

The beautiful Basilica of St. James is shown in the background. This church is a replica on a reduced scale of the famous St. Peters at Rome. The low sleighs are a favorite means of reaching the top of Mount Royal.
This is a genuine water color and a hand carved frame by Willard M. Mitchell.”

This text identifies the location and provides cultural context, noting both the architectural prominence of the Basilica of St. James and the seasonal tradition of sleigh rides that once animated Montreal’s winter streets. It also verifies that both the painting and its hand-carved wooden frame were made by Mitchell himself—a hallmark of his collectible miniature works.

Mitchell’s Little Red Sleigh exemplifies his ability to distill the charm of everyday Canadian life into small, jewel-like compositions. Created during the 1920s–1940s, these works were often sold to travellers as souvenirs celebrating Canadian landmarks and traditions. Here, Mitchell combines architectural reverence with nostalgic sentiment, offering a timeless glimpse of Montreal’s winter grace—a bright sleigh gliding beneath the pale dome of its great cathedral.