Italy Investigates Church Painting After Angel Restored to Resemble PM Meloni

Reuters

A restored angel fresco is displayed inside the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Lucina following controversy over an alleged resemblance to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in Rome.

An angel depicted in a church in central Rome has been restored to resemble Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, prompting an investigation by Italy’s culture ministry, national media reported on Saturday.

The daily newspaper la Repubblica first drew attention to the issue in a front-page report, noting that one of two angels in a chapel at the Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina had been altered to bear a likeness to the 49-year-old conservative leader, Italy’s first female prime minister.

The report was accompanied by before-and-after images of the artwork, stating that the angel had previously appeared as a “generic cherub” before the restoration.

Italy’s culture ministry said it had instructed Rome’s chief art heritage official to carry out an immediate inspection of the restored painting and would decide on further action following the assessment.

Prime Minister Meloni appeared to play down the incident, reportedly reacting with amusement to the revelation.

The opposition Five Star Movement complained: "We cannot allow art and culture to risk becoming a tool for propaganda or anything else, regardless of whether the face depicted is that of the prime minister."

The parish priest, Daniele Micheletti, told the ANSA news agency that the chapel’s decorations had recently been retouched after suffering water damage. He noted that the original paintings dated back only to 2000 and were therefore not subject to heritage protection.

The restoration was carried out by the same artist who produced the original work, Bruno Valentinetti. He rejected claims that the image had been altered, telling reporters: “I restored what was there before… 25 years ago.”

Prime Minister Meloni appeared to treat the matter lightly, sharing an image of the disputed painting on Instagram with the caption, “No, I definitely don’t look like an angel,” accompanied by a laughing emoji.

Source: Reuters



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