Italian Prime Minister's face found on restored fresco

The Italian government has launched an investigation after the face of the country's Prime Minister Georgia Meloni miraculously coincided with the face of an angel during the restoration of a fresco in Rome, reports the BBC.

We are talking about the chapel of the titular Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, located in the historical center of Rome. Even the Diocese of Rome intervened, whose representatives first expressed their “disappointment” and then stated that they would definitely determine who was responsible for such an obvious coincidence.

At the same time, parish priest Daniele Micheletti told Italian media that he does not remember what face the angel in the fresco originally had. The abbot added that this appearance is “not a problem” for him.

The fresco was restored by 83-year-old restorer Bruno Valentinetti. The BBC noted that he denied all the allegations and said he was simply restoring the face of an angel he painted in 2000. The artist did not intend to imitate anyone, and certainly did not plan to immortalize the face of the Prime Minister.

Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli ordered technicians to examine the painting “to clarify the nature of the intervention” and determine further steps.

After this, the ministry actually ordered a technical inspection of the fresco. However, according to the publication, cultural figures recalled that the fresco itself does not have a protected status, since it is a remake. This means that the accusations against the restoration artist cannot have significant grounds.

Prime Minister Meloni, for her part, wrote on Instagram that she “definitely doesn't look like an angel,” adding a laughing emoji to a photo of the mural.

Photo: BBC