Archive · 1 Feb 2026
Italy investigates church painting altered to resemble PM Meloni
A church in Rome had a painting of an angel that was fixed after some water damage.
When it was fixed, the angel started to look like Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni.
The government is checking to see if this was done on purpose.
Some people are upset, saying art shouldn't be used for politics.
The prime minister thought it was funny and posted about it on Instagram.
The artist who fixed the painting says he just restored it to how it looked before.
The painting is not very old, so it's not protected by special rules.
The angel used to look like a generic cherub before the restoration.
An angel in a Rome church painting was restored to resemble Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.
The culture ministry is investigating the alteration, ordering an inspection.
The opposition Five Star Movement criticized the change, calling it propaganda.
The artist, Bruno Valentinetti, denied altering the image, stating he restored it to its original state.
PM Meloni laughed off the affair, posting about it on Instagram with a humorous caption.
- Who
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Culture Ministry, Five Star Movement, Artist Bruno Valentinetti, Parish Priest Daniele Micheletti
- What
- A church painting of an angel was restored to resemble PM Meloni
- When
- Recently (after water damage), reported on January 31, 2024
- Where
- Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina, Rome, Italy
- Why
- The painting was restored after water damage, but the restoration altered the angel's face to resemble Meloni
- Location
- Basilica of St Lawrence in Lucina, Rome
- Artwork
- Painting of an angel
- Artist
- Bruno Valentinetti
- Restoration Date
- Recent (after water damage)
- Original Painting Date
- 2000
- Investigating Body
- Italy's Culture Ministry
- Opposition Criticism
- Five Star Movement
- PM Meloni's Response
- Laughed it off on Instagram
- Angel's Previous Appearance
- Generic cherub
