A striking resemblance to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been removed from a historic Rome church fresco, sparking a debate over artistic integrity and cultural representation. The image, a winged angel, was erased from a wall painting in a chapel of the Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina, central Rome, leaving the cherub headless.
The striking similarity to Meloni emerged after restoration by amateur artist Bruno Valentinetti, who was later asked to remove it by the Vatican. Valentinetti initially denied the deliberate restoration, but later confessed, stating the face was similar to the previous painting. The altered painting, completed in 2000, is not protected by heritage regulations.
The incident has prompted investigations by Italy's culture ministry and the diocese of Rome, with Cardinal Baldo Reina expressing 'bitterness' over the misuse of sacred art. Daniele Micheletti, the basilica's parish priest, acknowledged the resemblance but insisted the restoration was to be done exactly as instructed, to restore water-damaged artwork. The church has since been filled with visitors curious to see the image, some even disrupting religious services.
The scandal has sparked political debate, with opposition politicians criticizing the use of art for propaganda. Meloni herself laughed off the incident, posting a picture with the caption, 'No, I definitely don’t look like an angel.' The controversy raises questions about the boundaries of artistic expression and the potential impact of cultural representation in religious and political contexts.
