A restored angel in a Rome basilica has prompted political scrutiny after reports that its face now resembles Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
La Repubblica placed the story on its front page, pointing to before and after images that showed the angel, once a "generic cherub", bearing what it described as a clear likeness to Meloni.
The observation set off a rapid chain of reactions across Italy's cultural and political spheres.
The culture ministry said it had ordered Rome's top art heritage official to inspect the painting the same day before "deciding what to do next".
The issue quickly widened when the Five Star Movement argued that "we cannot allow art and culture to risk becoming a tool for propaganda or anything else, regardless of whether the face depicted is that of the prime minister".
Parish priest Daniele Micheletti said the decorations were retouched after water damage and stressed that the works, created in 2000, were not under heritage protection.
The restorer, Bruno Valentinetti, who painted the originals, dismissed the idea of political intent and said, "I restored what was there before... 25 years ago".
Meloni herself kept the tone light. She posted the image on Instagram with the line, "No, I definitely don't look like an angel", choosing humour while the inquiry moves ahead.
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The 61st Venice Biennale has opened under grey skies and political tension, with disputes over Russia and Israel, resignations on the jury, and protests marking the start of one of the art world’s most high-profile events.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 5th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Asian stocks surged on Thursday as some vessels resumed passage through the Strait of Hormuz, while forecast-beating results at Nvidia and a suspended workers' strike at Samsung Electronics lifted shares of chipmakers.
Day four of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku brings a packed agenda on sustainable cities and the global housing crisis, with sessions on green housing, smart cities, public spaces and urban rights taking place on Wednesday (20 May) at Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
At least 21 people have been killed and thousands evacuated after torrential rain triggered flooding, landslides and transport disruption across southern and central China, with authorities warning that more heavy rainfall is expected along the Yangtze River.
Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya warned on Tuesday (19 May) that Moscow could retaliate against Baltic states if Ukraine launches military drones from that region. Latvia, the United States and Ukraine responded strongly during a UN Security Council meeting.
Russia is considering the possibility of joint projects with the United States and China, Kirill Dmitriev, Head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, (Russia's sovereign wealth fund), was quoted as saying by state media on Wednesday.
Spanish police in Catalonia have detained Jonathan Andic, the son of Mango fashion group founder Isak Andic, as part of an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his father’s death in December 2024, authorities said.
Spain’s High Court has cleared Colombian pop star Shakira of tax fraud and annulled a €55 million ($64 million) penalty imposed by Spanish tax authorities in 2021, according to a court document.
Eurovision Song Contest once again proved how unpredictable its outcome can be, with Bulgaria’s Dara turning a late surge into a dominant win while several expected contenders collapsed early. At the same time, the absence of the South Caucasus region from the final raised questions.
Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time, taking victory in a final overshadowed by a boycott over Israel’s participation and the war in Gaza.
The Eurovision Song Contest's final takes place in Vienna on Saturday, with the organisers hoping the annual show of glitz and Europop will be a success despite five countries' withdrawal over Israel taking part.
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