Church and government officials in Italy have launched an investigation into claims that the face of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was painted on an angel during the restoration of a fresco in Rome. Italy's culture ministry has sent officers to inspect the artwork in a chapel of the Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina, while the Diocese of Rome expressed its disappointment and said it would determine who had been responsible.
The artist, Bruno Valentinetti, said he had simply restored the fresco he painted in 2000 and denied modelling the angel after the prime minister. Meloni responded in a post on Instagram saying she was definitely not like an angel, accompanied by a laughing emoji.
The apparent likeness was first reported on Saturday by Italian newspaper La Repubblica, which ran before-and-after pictures of the fresco and claimed the angel holding a map of Italy had previously looked like a generic cherub. The parish priest stated that the paintings had merely been touched up following recent water damage, expressing confusion over the resulting fuss.
Painters used to put all sorts of things in frescoes, said Monsignor Daniele Micheletti. Valentinetti, aged 83, rejected allegations that he altered the fresco to resemble Meloni, questioning, Who says it resembles Meloni?
Opposition parties have quickly demanded an investigation, with Irene Manzi of the Democratic Party condemning the situation as unacceptable, and the Five Star Movement asserting that art must not become a tool for propaganda. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli has ordered inspections to ascertain the nature of the intervention undertaken on the fresco.
The Diocese of Rome has stated that while they were aware of the restoration, they had been informed that nothing would be added or changed, emphasizing that the modification was made without proper communication with the authorities.
The Cardinal of the Diocese is set to investigate to determine possible responsibilities of those involved while affirming a commitment to protecting its artistic and spiritual heritage from misuse or exploitation.
The artist, Bruno Valentinetti, said he had simply restored the fresco he painted in 2000 and denied modelling the angel after the prime minister. Meloni responded in a post on Instagram saying she was definitely not like an angel, accompanied by a laughing emoji.
The apparent likeness was first reported on Saturday by Italian newspaper La Repubblica, which ran before-and-after pictures of the fresco and claimed the angel holding a map of Italy had previously looked like a generic cherub. The parish priest stated that the paintings had merely been touched up following recent water damage, expressing confusion over the resulting fuss.
Painters used to put all sorts of things in frescoes, said Monsignor Daniele Micheletti. Valentinetti, aged 83, rejected allegations that he altered the fresco to resemble Meloni, questioning, Who says it resembles Meloni?
Opposition parties have quickly demanded an investigation, with Irene Manzi of the Democratic Party condemning the situation as unacceptable, and the Five Star Movement asserting that art must not become a tool for propaganda. Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli has ordered inspections to ascertain the nature of the intervention undertaken on the fresco.
The Diocese of Rome has stated that while they were aware of the restoration, they had been informed that nothing would be added or changed, emphasizing that the modification was made without proper communication with the authorities.
The Cardinal of the Diocese is set to investigate to determine possible responsibilities of those involved while affirming a commitment to protecting its artistic and spiritual heritage from misuse or exploitation.
