The President Ronald Reagan does not have to beseparated from his favorite horse "El Alamein," even when one day heis no longer able to mount the fiery Arabian. The animal painter JanKünster from Bonn, West Germany, immortalized this white horsefor his retirement. The painting by the highly recognized artist willbe the farewell present from the German American Congress (DANK) tothe President. "This souvenir is in recognition for Reagan'sstrengthening of the German-American relations," says John Zavrel,the director for European Relations of the largest organization ofthe 52 million Americans of German descent.
When Reagan saw the sketches of the horse by the36-year-old German painter, he was enchanted: "He is a great talent."His expression pays extraordinary attention to the horse's anatomyand its fiery spirit. Without doubt, Reagan is considered an expertin this field. His appreciation for horses dates back to his earlyHollywood career in the roles of a young cowboy. Reagan recalls:"First I felt a little uneasy, but then I realized: horses can bevery loyal friends."
The painter Jan Künster has a similarexperience with horses. "Already as a schoolboy I adored theseanimals," he says. Today he not only rides horses, but also isconsidered to be the most significant painter of horses of theyounger generation of artists in West Germany. His specialty is"special commissions" from horse experts and lovers, whose valuableand high-spirited horses he portrays in aquarell and oil paintings,with or without their owners.
Reagan's appreciation for horses became widelyknown when he once wanted to bring one as a present to the GermanChancellor Helmut Kohl. But the Chancellor's aides discreetlyprevented this from happening. Although there would have been enoughlawn for the horse around the Chancellor's mansion, there were nostables. Besides, a German Chancellor could not afford such a luxury,because the opposition in the Parliament would have new opportunitiesfor criticism. Reagan does not have this kind of problem. People evenhave understanding for the fact that the same jellybeans that thePresident offers to prominent guests from all over the world, whenthey visit him in the White House, he also brings back to his SantaBarbara Ranch as a treat for his horses. And the horses eat thejellybeans from his hand.
Reagan received the Arabian in 1981 from theformer Mexican President Jose Lopez Portillo y Pacheco as a personalgift. And now the horse has been trotting on the ranch for sevenyears. "It never threw the President off," say people close toReagan.
The painter Jan Künster does not appreciatethe early publicity about this state commission. He prefers to workin privacy. But the artist respects the American mentality of beingmore open-minded towards these kind of projects. Before "El Alamein"starts trotting over the canvas in oil, Künster makes manysketches, drawings, and motion studies. Each composition is exciting.The single drawings will be used as book illustrations or graphics,says Zavrel, who awarded the commission to the artist.
Reagan himself shows a great interest in symbolicgestures involving animals. This started officially under theChancellor Helmut Schmidt, who presented a pair of bald-headed eaglesto Ronald Reagan during his visit to Germany. Furthermore, KurtArentz created specially for the White House two bronze eagles, named"Peace and "Liberty." Richard Burt, the Ambassador to Germany, madethe presentation personally to his boss, Reagan, because Kohl'sadvisors "did not find any available space" in the Chancellor'ssuitcase. The presentation of the horse painting will be scheduledfor this year. "But first I have to finish the painting," concludesthe artist.