A recently restored mural in a church in Rome sparked widespread debate after Italian media noticed that one of the angels depicted bears a striking resemblance to Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The discovery prompted Italy’s Ministry of Culture to launch an urgent review to determine the nature of the artwork and the appropriate conservation measures.
The mural is located in a small church affiliated with Basilica San Lorenzo in Lucina, just meters from Italy’s government headquarters in central Rome. According to La Repubblica, which first reported the story, the artwork had undergone recent restoration work.
In the mural, an angel holding a scroll featuring a map of Italy appears to have facial features similar to the conservative Italian leader. The figure is positioned to the right of a marble bust of Umberto II, the last king of Italy.
The restoration artist, Bruno Valentinetti, denied any intention to depict Meloni, stressing that his work only aimed to return the mural to its original condition.
Meloni herself weighed in on the debate via Instagram, writing: “No, I certainly do not look like the angel,” further fueling media and public interest in the controversy.
Amid pressure from centrist-left opposition lawmakers, Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli announced that the ministry had ordered an urgent assessment of the mural.
According to an official statement, technicians from the Ministry of Culture were tasked with evaluating the restoration work and determining the measures needed to safeguard the artistic heritage of the church.
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