Investigations into Roman Fresco Angel Resembling Meloni

A restored fresco in a historic Roman basilica has sparked investigations by church and cultural authorities after an angel depicted in the artwork began resembling Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The cherub, part of a mural above a marble bust of Umberto II, Italy's last king, appears in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, a fourth-century church near the government's headquarters in central Rome. The resemblance became public knowledge late last month following the completion of restoration work that had been underway for about two years.

The fresco, originally painted around 2000, showed two generic angels flanking the bust before the recent intervention. After the work, one angel holding a scroll with Italy's outline now features facial characteristics strikingly similar to Meloni's, including her blonde hair and features, according to observers who viewed before-and-after images. The changes prompted widespread online discussion and media coverage, highlighting the transformation from a nondescript figure to one evoking the nation's leader.

Bruno Valentinetti, an 83-year-old sacristan and volunteer restorer at the basilica, carried out the project. He insisted the...