The artist who created this portrait, Joseph Swift, was an itinerant painter who worked primarily around Toronto. His works are in the British tradition and some people consider them to be among the best animal portraiture in Canada. He sometimes used a stencil and other techniques to increase the definition of his subjects and ensure that they were the centre of attention. Many of his works, such as this example of a Clydesdale stallion, feature impressive horses. Swift's paintings are highly appreciated today by collectors of Canadian folk art.