Too Close a Resemblance Sparks Controversy... Restored Fresco in Rome Basilica Said to Resemble Prime Minister Meloni

Opposition Calls for Full Investigation
Restorer Says "Faithfully Reproduced the Original"
Cultural Heritage Debate Escalates into Political Controversy

A controversy has erupted in Rome after claims that the face of an angel in a recently restored fresco at a local church closely resembles Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

According to AFP and other foreign media outlets on January 31 (local time), a major basilica in Rome, which had recently suffered flood damage resulting in partial destruction of a fresco, commissioned restoration work from cultural heritage experts. After the restoration was unveiled, allegations emerged that the angel’s face bore an uncanny resemblance to Prime Minister Meloni.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the angel figure from the fresco at the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

The site in question is a chapel within the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, located near the Italian government complex. The chapel features a fresco depicting two angels, and the face of one of the angels has become the center of controversy. On the same day, Prime Minister Meloni also shared a photo of the recently restored angel fresco from the basilica on her social media, joking, "No, I definitely do not look like an angel."

The fresco depicts a winged angel holding a scroll and standing in front of a bust of Umberto II, the last king of Italy. The prominent daily newspaper La Repubblica fueled the controversy by pointing out that the angel's facial features and expression resemble those of Prime Minister Meloni. Online reactions were divided, ranging from "Honestly, they do look alike," to "This is a forced interpretation," and "People will make a controversy out of anything."

As the debate intensified, some opposition politicians called for a thorough investigation into the entire restoration process, questioning whether there was any political intent involved in the restoration of public cultural heritage. Bruno Ventinetti, the Italian restorer in charge of the project, explained, "I simply did my best to faithfully reconstruct the original traces and references," and added, "Prime Minister Meloni was never used as a model."

In response, Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli ordered an investigation into the fresco and announced that further action would be determined based on the findings.

A similar case occurred in Spain in 2019, when a restored church fresco sparked controversy after claims that the face of Jesus resembled a local politician. In other instances, such as in Russia and some Latin American countries, debates have arisen over historical statues that some believe evoke current political figures.