"Italian officials are at odds over a restored fresco in a central Roman chapel following accusations that one of the repainted cherubs was intentionally modeled after far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Though self-taught restorer Bruno Valentinetti, who originally painted the mural, has denied using the politician's likeness at the Basilica Minore di San Lorenzo in Lucina, the Italian Ministry of Culture has launched an inspection into the chapel conservation project."
"Valentinetti reiterated multiple times that he "doesn't notice any resemblance" to Meloni after revising the fresco he had originally painted in 2000, which suffered from water damage. The 83-year-old stated to La Reppublica that the angel in question initially referenced a much younger "old flame" of his who now lives abroad, and that he just repainted what was originally there."
An 83-year-old self-taught restorer, Bruno Valentinetti, repainted a water-damaged fresco in the Basilica Minore di San Lorenzo in Lucina and replaced a cherub that many say resembles Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Valentinetti denies modeling the angel on Meloni and says the figure originally referenced a younger former romantic partner who now lives abroad. Valentinetti lives at the basilica on a social pension and maintains the church in exchange for boarding. The Italian Ministry of Culture has opened an inspection into the chapel conservation project. The parish priest said Valentinetti was once affiliated with the neo-fascist Italian Social Movement.
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