The face of an angel in a fresco at Rome’s Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina was scrubbed out after a restoration appeared to give the figure features resembling Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The repair, carried out by 83-year-old custodian Bruno Valentinetti after water damage, prompted an investigation ordered by Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli and an inspection by heritage officials. The Diocese of Rome said the original face will be reinstated and that future restorations will need official approval.
Angel’s Face Removed After Fresco Draws Comparison To Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
The angel’s face, which has now been crudely removed, was said to bear a striking resemblance to Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister - Getty Images
An angel’s face on a fresco in Rome was scrubbed out after critics said the restored feature resembled Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, prompting a formal inquiry and renewed scrutiny of the work.
The fresco is located in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, a short walk from the Italian parliament. The painting, which honors Umberto II — Italy’s last king, who reigned for 34 days — originally showed two angels. After water damage, the work was repaired by Bruno Valentinetti, the 83-year-old custodian of the basilica. Visitors later noticed that the winged female figure holding a scroll depicting a map of Italy appeared to have facial features similar to those of Ms Meloni.
Investigation and Official Response
The resemblance prompted an investigation ordered by Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli and an inspection by Daniela Porro, a senior cultural heritage official for Rome. Officials said they wanted 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."
Bruno Valentinetti, the 83-year-old restorer, initially denied any intentional likeness to the prime minister - Filippo Monteforte/AFP via Getty
"No, I definitely don’t look like an angel," Ms Meloni quipped when she posted a photo of the fresco online.
Mr Valentinetti initially insisted the likeness was in the eye of the beholder and said the fresco had been heavily damaged before he worked on it. He later acknowledged that the angel bore a resemblance to the prime minister but maintained that his repainting followed the original composition. He told local media he had been ordered to remove the likeness by the Vatican, which has not issued a public statement on the matter.
Diocese Action and Heritage Status
The Diocese of Rome subsequently confirmed the original face would be reinstated after Cardinal Baldassare Reina warned that "images of sacred art and Christian tradition cannot be misused or exploited." The altered image was removed overnight, temporarily leaving the angel faceless. Authorities said any future restoration of the fresco will require official approval.
Notably, the fresco dates from 2000 and is not classified as protected heritage artwork, which informs how restoration work on it is regulated.
Crowds of visitors flocked to the basilica to see the controversial fresco, taking photos and selfies - Anadolu
Public Reaction
The episode attracted wider attention after international headlines, drawing larger crowds to the basilica. The priest, Rev Daniele Micheletti, said many visitors came to take photographs rather than to pray. A local visitor who spoke to the press described the likeness as unmistakable and suggested the angel holding a map of Italy carried symbolic meaning given Ms Meloni’s leadership of the Brothers of Italy party.
As events unfolded, officials emphasized the importance of authenticated conservation practices and the need for proper oversight when restoring works — particularly when a piece stands in a politically sensitive location near parliament.
Key facts: the restoration was carried out after water damage by the basilica’s custodian; the resemblance prompted inspections and a directive that future restorations obtain official approval; and the original face is set to be reinstated by church authorities.
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