Article — Italy Investigates After Restored Angel Painting in Rome Appears to Resemble Giorgia Meloni In an old basilica tucked among the historic streets of Rome, art and politics have unexpectedly intertwined — not through debate in parliament, but through the delicate brushstrokes of a church fresco. What was meant to be a routine restoration job has sparked national controversy after worshippers and visitors noticed that one of the angels in the freshly restored artwork bears an uncanny resemblance to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The scene is in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, a centuries‑old church in central Rome. In a side chapel, two angels flanking a bust of Umberto II, Italy’s last king, were recently cleaned and repaired following water damage. But when photos of the restored angel began circulating in the Italian press and online, observers noticed what looked like a striking similarity between the angel’s features and those of Meloni — Italy’s first female prime minister.
The reaction was swift. Italy’s Ministry of Culture ordered an immediate inspection by the Superintendency for Rome’s cultural heritage to compare the current fresco with archival images and determine what, if any, changes were made during restoration. Meanwhile, the Diocese of Rome also opened its own inquiry to evaluate whether sacred imagery had been altered inappropriately.
At the center of the controversy is the volunteer restorer, Bruno Valentinetti, who worked on the fresco after it was damaged. Valentinetti has denied intentionally modeling the angel after Meloni, saying he based his work on the original fresco from 2000, which he also painted. He told Italian media that he merely traced and revived the earlier outlines, insisting the resemblance is coincidental.
Church officials have tried to calm the storm, but the situation has taken on unexpected momentum. Cardinal Baldassare Reina of the Diocese emphasized that sacred art should not be used as a vehicle for political expression, and that any alteration to a church fresco should be approached with great care and transparency. The culture ministry’s statement similarly underscored the importance of safeguarding historic and spiritual heritage.
Meloni herself responded with humor. On social media, she posted the image of the angel and quipped, “No, I definitely don’t look like an angel,” accompanied by a laughing emoji, seeking to downplay the fracas even as crowds flock to the basilica to see the artwork for themselves.
Beyond the humorous social‑media posts and church press releases, the episode has tapped into wider discussions in Italy about the relationship between art, politics, and public culture — and whether a cherished place of worship should ever become part of a political debate, intentional or not.
AI Image Disclaimer Visuals are created with AI tools and are not real photographs.
Sources Reuters AP News The Guardian Artnet News Euronews