The face resembling Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been removed from a fresco in a historic Rome church, ending a controversy that drew scrutiny from the Vatican and Italian culture officials.
Angel Fresco Altered to Resemble Giorgia Meloni
The image, located in a chapel of the Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina, was erased overnight, leaving the cherub depicted headless. The likeness first came to light on Saturday after being reported by La Repubblica.
Bruno Valentinetti, the amateur artist who restored the painting, confessed to intentionally altering the angel’s face to resemble Meloni. He initially denied the claims, stating, “Yes, it’s the prime minister’s face,” but added, “But it’s similar to the previous painting.”
The altered painting, originally completed in 2000, is not subject to heritage regulations. However, the incident prompted investigations by Italy’s culture ministry and the diocese of Rome. Cardinal Baldo Reina, the diocese’s vicar general, expressed “bitterness” over the misuse of sacred art.
Daniele Micheletti, the basilica’s parish priest, acknowledged “a certain resemblance” to Meloni but maintained he instructed Valentinetti to restore the painting to its original state after it suffered water damage.
The church experienced an influx of visitors hoping to view the image, which Micheletti said disrupted religious services. “There was a procession of people that came to see it instead of listening to mass or praying,” he stated. “It wasn’t acceptable.”
Opposition politicians, including members of the Five Star Movement, criticized the incident, stating that art and culture should not be used for “propaganda.”
Meloni herself responded to the controversy with a post on Instagram, sharing a picture of the painting with the caption, “No, I definitely don’t look like an angel,” accompanied by a laughing emoji.
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