"The face of a winged angel bearing a striking resemblance to the Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni has been erased from a fresco in a historic Rome church, putting an end to a debacle that embarrassed the Vatican. The image on the wall painting in a chapel of the Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina in central Rome was removed overnight, leaving the cherub headless. The dead ringer for Meloni appeared after restoration by an amateur artist, Bruno Valentinetti."
"Valentinetti for days denied he had deliberately restored the angel's face to look like Meloni, before confessing. Yes, it's the prime minister's face, he told La Repubblica. But it's similar to the previous painting. The altered painting was first completed in 2000 and is not protected by any heritage regulations. The likeness to Meloni prompted investigations by Italy's culture ministry and the diocese of Rome, with cardinal Baldo Reina, the diocese's vicar general, expressing bitterness over the incident."
A fresco in a chapel of the Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina, Rome, had an angel whose face bore a striking likeness to Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni. The image resulted from an amateur restoration by Bruno Valentinetti and was altered in 2000. Valentinetti initially denied intentional likeness but later admitted it matched the prime minister. The Vatican requested removal, and the face was erased overnight, leaving the cherub headless. The painting is not protected by heritage regulations. Italy's culture ministry and the diocese of Rome opened investigations, and parishioners and tourists flocked to view the controversial image.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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