Arya News - The face of an angel on a fresco in Italy that provoked outrage because of its resemblance to Giorgia Meloni has been scrubbed out by the artist who restored it.
The face of an angel on a fresco in Italy that provoked outrage because of its resemblance to Giorgia Meloni has been scrubbed out by the artist who restored it.
The painting in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, a short walk from the Italian parliament, triggered a political and religious row last week when a restoration appeared to give the winged figure the features of the Italian prime minister .
Visitors noticed the likeness, prompting an investigation by Italy’s culture ministry and heritage officials.
Ms Meloni laughed off the affair, posting a photograph of the fresco online with the caption: “No, I definitely don’t look like an angel.”
The basilica, one of Rome’s most historic churches, stands in a square long associated with Italy’s conservative politics. Ms Meloni leads the Brothers of Italy party.
Bruno Valentinetti, the 83-year-old restorer, initially denied any intentional likeness to the prime minister - Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty
Alessandro Giuli, the culture minister, has ordered an investigation and the church was inspected on Saturday by Daniela Porro, a senior cultural heritage official for Rome.
They said in a statement that they want to get to the bottom of “the nature of the restoration carried out on the painting in one of the chapels of San Lorenzo in Lucina”.
At first, denial
The painting, a monument to Umberto II, Italy’s last king, who reigned for just 34 days, originally showed two angels watching over him.
After water damage, the work was restored by Bruno Valentinetti, 83, the basilica’s custodian. The winged female figure holding a scroll depicting a map of Italy then appeared to acquire the facial features of the prime minister.
He initially dismissed the accusations, insisting any likeness existed only in the imagination.
“The fresco was very damaged and the images were almost unrecognisable. The rector asked me to restore them,” he said. “You think there is a resemblance? Well, that’s up to you.”
Asked whether he was a supporter of Ms Meloni, he replied: “I’ve not voted for years. Whoever has been in government, my pension of €600 (£520) a month has remained the same.”
A confession and a cover-up
Days later, Mr Valentinetti conceded that the angel did indeed bear the prime minister’s face, while maintaining it followed the original image.
He told La Repubblica he had been ordered to remove it by the Vatican, which has not yet released a statement.
The Diocese of Rome confirmed the original face would now be reinstated after Cardinal Baldassare Reina said that “images of sacred art and Christian tradition cannot be misused or exploited”.
Crowds of visitors flocked to the basilica to see the controversial fresco, taking photos and selfies - Anadolu
The fresco dates only from 2000 and is not protected heritage artwork.
The altered image was removed overnight, leaving the angel temporarily faceless, and authorities said any future restoration will require official approval.
A tourist attraction
After the story made global headlines, bigger crowds began arriving to judge for themselves.
“There was a procession of people who came to see it and take selfies, not to pray,” the basilica’s priest, Rev Daniele Micheletti, told Ansa news agency.
A Fabrizio, a 63-year-old businessman who was inspecting the painting on Sunday, told The Telegraph : “It’s definitely Meloni.”
“The fact that the angel is holding a map of Italy seems to be symbolic – Meloni is in charge of the country, after all.”
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