Portrait of «Gifted » disappeared

“Gifted,” Carol Lavell’s famous equine partner and Olympic Bronze Medal winner had his portrait painted in life size oil by Patricia Powers. This extraordinary painting, completed in 1993, was very well known in the dressage community. Carol Lavell, a two-time winner of the US Olympic Committee Female Equestrian Athlete of the Year, was delighted when she first saw the completed portrait of her renowned horse. “Gifted loved to passage,” she said. “He would actually turn his head down to watch his feet. Patricia caught that exact moment in this painting. He had enormous power and loved to show it.”

Gifted’s portrait was unveiled at a private showing in Saratoga Springs and then traveled to art galleries from New York to California. In 1998 it was to be returned to the New York studio. It never arrived…

Patricia Powers feels this painting of Gifted could possibly be hanging in the United States, Canada or even Europe. “Perhaps the present owner is unaware of its history and just considers it to be a great painting of a beautiful horse”, Powers says. “We would be most happy to have it back. Please phone or mail to Patricia Powers at (518) 851-2468; greydun@greydun.com when you have information. Replies will remain anonymous.

Stolen Horse International, a non-profit organization, is also searching for the Gifted painting. If you like to reach them about the painting please email it to stolenhorse@netposse.com.