
THE ECLIPSE - PHOTOGRAPHS FROM ANTONELLA GAMBOTTO-BURKE'S PERSONAL ALBUM ...
GIANLUCA GAMBOTTO
Antonella: "This was taken in Ravenna, Italy, at breakfast. Italians do not eat cereal; they have caffelatte and biscuits, or toasted sandwiches. (I used to scarf the most insanely delicious prosciutto-and-Swiss toasted sandwiches every morning.) Note the dinky table-setting ... I'm lucky if I remember my head before breakfast these days. I love this photograph because it so perfectly captures the gentleness at the core of my brother's nature."

Antonella: "This was taken on Christmas, 1993, outside my apartment in Neutral Bay. The viking helmet was one of my presents; my brother gave me a Natasha (from Rocky and Bullwinkle) cap. A great afternoon. We played on all the toys in the park - my oldest friend, a 6'5" first-grade cricketer, now an Anglican minister - was there, but as he is far more mature than I am, he refrained from such juvenile exhibition. I love this shot because it is my brother's spirit in excelsis - playful, mischievous, a little nutty, and the most fun in the world."
GIUSEPPINA MISTRONI

Antonella: "Maternal grandparents in Ferrara. My grandmother's eyes were the most intoxicatingly clear green and her skin was translucent, just beautiful. Her lipsticks were richly colored, fragrant. She was an inspiring, outstandingly optimistic, strong, and intelligent woman who had had a terrible life. An alcoholic father, no money, sent to work as a seamstress at twelve or so, trapped in a war zone during WWII, wasted on her era. I remember she always used to tell me how lucky I was to be born in this time, and she was right. Born today, she would have evolved into a corporate raider. Framed photographs of her are all over my house. She is my hero."
Antonella: "A deeply evocative portrait. Ferrara during WWII - note the castle walls in the background, and the bicycles. (My great-uncle, her youngest brother, still hoons around the city on his bicycle with a flower in the buttonhole of his impeccably pressed jacket.) I love my grandmother's assertive mien here, and her spooky sunglasses, and her sexy stride."
MICHAEL VERMEULEN

Antonella: "Michael in Brighton. We'd been fighting all weekend, so I exacted my revenge by posing him so that it looked like the silver ball was balanced on his head. He's all russetty and fiery here, just about to cause fresh havoc. Michael craved devotion and security, but didn't know what to do with it when he had it. I can still hear the gorgeous quack of his voice."

Antonella: These four candles were lit by artist Hu Ming at my wedding. Alexander and I wanted to honor those we most loved in spirit - in my case, Gianluca, Michael and Nonna; in his case, Lt-Col John Murray Dalton Burke, his red-haired grandfather. The day was absolutely magical.
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