A church fresco depicting an angel with the face of Prime Minister Meloni has caused a scandal in Italy: what is known
1 February 11:17
Italy is investigating the restoration of a church fresco in which an angel began to resemble Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after renovation. This refers to one of two angel figures in the chapel of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina in central Rome.
This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to DW.
The Italian Ministry of Culture said it had ordered an urgent inspection of the restored painting and would then decide what action to take. The opposition Five Star Movement criticized the situation, stressing that art should not be turned into a tool of political propaganda.
The rector of the church, Daniele Micheletto, explained that the painting had only been retouched after being damaged by water, and that the images themselves date back to 2000 and do not have cultural heritage status.
Restorer Bruno Valentetti denied any intentional resemblance to the prime minister:
“As for this face, I restored it and restored what was there 25 years ago. I had to use the designs and colors of the previous restoration, it couldn’t be changed.”
Meloni herself took the story with humor.
She posted a photo of the restored angel and wrote: “No, I definitely don’t look like an angel.”
