Italy's Ministry of Culture recently received public complaints regarding a restored fresco in the Chapel of the Souls in Purgatory, located within the Basilica of Saint Lawrence in Lucina, in central Rome. The restoration, completed in 12/2025, drew attention after comparative images posted on social media revealed a striking resemblance between the angel's face in the artwork and prime minister Giorgia Meloni.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and the face of an angel in a fresco at a Rome chapel. *Photo: AFP*

Alessandro Giuli, Italy's Minister of Culture, ordered an investigation into whether the restorer intentionally added Meloni's face to the fresco. The Rome Heritage Superintendency, responsible for managing the capital's archaeological and historical monuments, was tasked with the inquiry. Daniela Porro's office, head of the Special Superintendency of Rome, stated on 3/2 that the Superintendency initiated an archival search to identify original documents, photographs, or drawings of the 2000 painting in the Lucina chapel. This search aims to compare them with the current decoration.

Porro clarified that these decorative motifs, dating back to 2000, are not cultural heritage and are not protected. While modifications to contemporary works are permissible, they require approval from the competent authority. The investigation continues.

Bruno Valentinetti, the expert who carried out the fresco restoration as a volunteer, denied altering the painting to resemble prime minister Meloni. He stated that he copied the original 2000 drawing.

Cardinal Baldo Reina, the chapel's parish priest, issued a statement indicating the modification of the angel's face was performed by the restorer independently and without informing authorities. He did not offer an opinion on whether the angel's face resembled the prime minister.

The controversy attracted hundreds of people to the chapel, eager to judge for themselves if the angel's face in the painting resembled Meloni. This sparked lively comments on social media from both supporters and opponents of the populist leader.

Parish priest Daniele Micheletti confirmed the similarity between the angel's face in the fresco and the female prime minister but did not consider it a scandal. "I don't understand the uproar", he stated. "Artists have always included all sorts of things in frescoes; even Caravaggio once painted the face of a courtesan. I don't want the parish to be perceived as having a Meloni political slant", he added, referring to one of Western art history's most influential painters.

Prime minister Meloni herself addressed the issue on Instagram last weekend, posting that she "certainly does not resemble an angel", accompanied by a laughing emoji.

Huyen Le (According to CNN, La Repubblica)