Italian officials are currently embroiled in a controversy surrounding a recently restored fresco in a central Roman chapel. The restoration, which took place at the Basilica Minore di San Lorenzo in Lucina, has sparked accusations that one of the cherubs in the mural was intentionally modeled after far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The self-taught restorer, Bruno Valentinetti, who originally painted the mural in 2000, has vehemently denied using the politician’s likeness in his restoration work. Despite his denials, the Italian Ministry of Culture has launched an investigation into the conservation project at the chapel.
Photos of Valentinetti’s restoration quickly spread across the internet, leading to widespread speculation about the cherub’s resemblance to Meloni. The Prime Minister herself addressed the controversy on Instagram, stating, “No, I definitely don’t look like an angel,” accompanied by a laughing emoji.
In interviews with Italian media outlets, Valentinetti maintained that he did not intentionally model the cherub after Meloni. He claimed that the angel was originally inspired by a former love interest of his, who now lives abroad. Valentinetti emphasized that he simply repainted what was already there and refuted any allegations of political motivations behind his work.
Despite Valentinetti’s explanations, the parish priest, Daniele Micheletti, revealed that the restorer had ties to the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement in the past. This revelation added another layer of complexity to the ongoing controversy surrounding the fresco restoration.
The reaction to the Meloni-esque cherub has been divided along political lines, with members of the Democratic Party calling for the Ministry of Culture’s intervention, while supporters of the right-wing Brothers of Italy party dismissed the controversy as a left-wing attack on the government.
In response to the uproar, the Ministry of Culture has initiated an inquiry to determine the nature of the restoration and decide on further actions. The Diocese of Rome also confirmed that the alteration of the cherub’s face was not communicated to the appropriate authorities, prompting Cardinal Baldassare Reina to issue a warning against exploiting sacred art for political purposes.
The controversy surrounding the fresco serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between art and politics in Italy. As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the authorities will address the allegations of intentional resemblance to a prominent political figure in the restored mural.
