Italian authorities investigated a fresco in a Roman basilica after recent restoration works appeared to portray Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as an angel or a Nike, a figure from Greek mythology commonly used by Italian monarchists.
The Cherubino’s features were retouched by the same painter who created the original designs 20 years ago for the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina — a church historically associated with Rome’s right-wing political figures.
His artistic choice set off a public debate that quickly turned political.
Members of the opposition called for an inquiry seeking “clarity on all responsibilities,” while the Culture Ministry inspected the site over the weekend. Local Culture Ministry officials “will verify if a request for the original 2000 decorations was made and if any sketches or pictures exist,” as the church is the property of the Interior Ministry.
In a bid to defuse the situation, Meloni posted a photo of the fresco on Instagram, brushing off the episode with a wry caption: “No, I’m definitely not like an angel.”
The local diocese tried to distance itself from the artwork’s political undertones Sunday, urging people not to weaponize religious art. “Images of sacred art and Christian tradition should not be subject to improper use,” the office said in a statement.
But Monsignor Daniele Micheletti, the pastor of the basilica, played down the uproar, characterizing San Lorenzo in Lucina’s winged victory as a simple matter of artistic freedom.
After all, “even Caravaggio used the face of a prostitute” in his art, he said.
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