Seven Skies for Venice

“Ancient astronomers, observing the celestial sphere, identified ether as the fifth element composing the world—unlike earth, water, fire, and air, it was ethereal, immutable, and eternal. These qualities define the seven skies depicted by Anna Peter Breton. Her oils, imbued with warm, solar hues, are applied like transparent veils, their vibrant colors revealed through a subtle interplay with the underlying canvas.

The harmonious blend of colors evokes ethereal clouds, dancing seraphim that embody the timeless, unchanging nature of the skies. These celestial realms, indifferent to the passage of time and human presence, are reborn daily in their poetic beauty.

Seven skies—mirroring the celestial spheres—represent the totality of planetary and angelic orders, the celestial realms, and spiritual energies inherent in Breton's work. Her masterful technique, with its deliberate, measured brushstrokes, captures the serene, immutable nature of the heavens.

This series is not only a celestial exploration but also a homage to Venice, where the sky's reflection permeates every aspect of the city: its canals, its buildings, and its boats. It also pays tribute to the 18th-century Venetian master, Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, whose dynamic brushwork adorned churches and palazzi, seemingly reaching for the heavens themselves.

Anna’s highest sky echoes the Ptolemaic-Aristotelian seventh heaven, the celestial sphere closest to God. She finds its counterpart in the sacred lakes of Kyrgyzstan, 3000 meters above sea level, a place of profound spiritual elevation.”

Roberta Semeraro

Venice, January 19, 2025

Translated from Italian by Mara Gerety

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Featured in Architectural Digest Italia, Marie Claire France, Marie Claire Belgie, Beaux Arts Magazine