«Everything flows, even the best of single malts», words of Manlio Scopigno who was not an art critic but a philosopher coach. In the debate of the artistic left, which must have been late on the terrace the other night, everything flows towards a fresco that towers in a chapel of the basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucinain the heart of Rome: a angel holding a scroll of Italy would have the face of Giorgia Meloni. The alarm is triggered immediately democratic brush.
The alarm of the Democratic Party and the pictorial level playing field
There is enough to summon the secretariat of Democratic Partyshout in a note at the «affront for the serious violation of the code of Cultural heritage», request the intervention of Supervision to make the fascist cherub disappear. Or, in the name of level playing fieldto hope that the Swiss profile of Botticelli’s Venus is painted Elly Schlein.
Cancel culture and cult of art
Unfortunately it’s all true. And after asking the minister for explanations Alessandro Giulithe dem group leader in the Culture Committee of the Chamber, Irene Manziadds: «The hypothesis that an intervention of restoration may have produced an image attributable to a contemporary face represents a serious violation. The cultural heritage it cannot be bent to improper readings, its identity and historical value cannot be compromised.” It is comforting to note that the cancel culture party – supporter of Latest Generation which defaced paintings and sculptures – went from the systematic destruction of «supremacist icons» to cult of classical art.
Obsession and replication
At the same time it is evident theobsession of the opposition for the prime minister, underlined by the reply of Susanna Campione (Fdi), in the Senate Culture Committee: «We are at mystical delirium. In order to attack the government, the left asks the minister to check why the face of a fresco resembles that of Giorgia Meloni. The level of obsession is total, in the absence of ideas all they have to do is quibble about the sex of angels, or rather their faces. I want to hope that the opposition does not ask to also include the faces of Schlein, Bonelli, Fratoianni and Conte in the fresco.”
Pareidolia and social media
Since i cherubs in the wall painting there are two, someone notices that the other has the tuft of Giuseppe Conteas an alternative to Bobby Solo or Elvis Presley. Is called pareidoliathe brain’s instinctive tendency to recognize familiar shapes in random outlines, including clouds. This is how theartistic embolus: but is the face really that of the prime minister? She intervenes amusedly X: «No, I definitely don’t look like an angel» he replies with a laughing face. But the resemblance is there and the story is soon told.
The restoration and explanations
Leaks from the foundations and the roof had damaged the chapel with the fresco of the Winged victory around the bust of the king Umberto II. Monsignor Daniele Micheletti (rector of the Pantheon and the basilica) had entrusted the restoration to the artisan decorator Bruno Valentinettiwho planned it in 2002 and finished it last Christmas. «I informed the Superintendency and the work started. Effectively she looks a lot like her» states the priest. «Even if it were, what harm is there? This is not why we are melonians. Those are souls of the Purgatory. The churches of Rome are full of portraits of noble families who are not always irreproachable. We have the bust of Umberto II but this does not mean we are monarchists. Also Caravaggio he painted the face of a prostitute. But I wouldn’t want to pass the parish off as Melonian, if it causes scandal we’ll have it changed.”
Investigations and denials
While the Vicariate promises an investigation and the superintendent of Roma Capitale, Daniela Porroplans a visit tomorrow, the author of the restoration Valentinetti (82 years old) falls from the clouds: «Who says it’s Meloni? All inventions. I played it back the same as 25 years agotracing the profile after having taken up the drawings and colours.” Valentinetti worked on the restoration of the Sistine Chapelto the palace of the sultan of Jordan and in the family’s Villa Belvedere Berlusconi in Macherio. On the possible sympathy for the prime minister inherited from a distant closeness to the Italian Social Movementadds: «I haven’t voted for years, since my pension hasn’t increased. I liked it Christian Democracy Of Giulio Andreotti». Then to make fun of the journalists: «And also Pol Pot».
Sacred precedents and typhoid
While lifting the pictorial fussa precedent in its own religious way comes to mind. About ten years ago it was discovered that the crucifix in the chapel ofPope John XXIII Hospital of Bergamo had something extemporaneous: the face of Jesus looked damn similar to that of Bociahistoric ultra leader of theAtalantaDaspo record holder. After controversies and denials (“Is it right to confuse charity and arrogance?”), the artist Andrea Mastrovito admitted artistic license in the name of cheering. And the warp flash artifact is still there. Episode that must have escaped the Pope’s cardinal vicar, Baldo Reinawho yesterday instead expressed “bitterness”: “The images ofsacred art they cannot be the subject of improper use or exploitation”.
The magnet of discord
Although “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” (William Shakespeare), the iconoclastic left look for the culprits with the magnifying glass. Monsignor Micheletti doesn’t agree: «Between Meloni and Schlein I won’t choose either of them. If there is a growth in the right-wing faithful, no problem, I’ll wait for them mass». He understood everything. THE’fresco of discord is already a magnet, standing room only is expected on the churchyard. The other dilemma of these dramatic hours remains: “Who is entitled to officially establish that the face is that of Meloni?”. Easy answer: a judge with syndrome Achille Bonito Oliva and the desire to end up in the newspapers is found everywhere.
