restorer painting italian pm on ancient fresco morning links 1234772067

Restorer Bruno Valentinetti admitted to painting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's face onto an angel fresco at the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Rome, sparking backlash from lawmakers who called it "covert propaganda." The Vatican ordered the image removed, and Valentinetti complied, erasing his homage. Experts are now studying photographs of the original angel to guide a new restoration. Separately, President Trump announced plans to install a repaired statue of Christopher Columbus on the White House grounds, and an open letter with 500 signatories demanded curatorial independence at the Art Gallery of Ontario after it declined to acquire a Nan Goldin work.

When is art sacred? A Jesuit artist on what makes the absurd, the abstract and the ordinary holy

The article is a first-person reflection by Jesuit artist Nick Leeper on the 2024 Biennale d'Art Contemporain Sacré in Menton, France. Leeper describes entering the Grand Hôtel des Ambassadeurs expecting a traditional sacred art show but finding instead a mix of abstract sculptures, Venetian glassworks, and works by Man Ray, alongside more conventional religious pieces. The biennale, founded in 2019 by Liana Marabini, features 180 artists from 29 countries exploring the theme of "forgiveness," including major names like Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama, and Gerhard Richter, as well as artists from religious orders. Leeper recounts how visitors at the opening asked what makes such diverse works sacred.

When is art sacred? A Jesuit artist on what makes the absurd, the abstract and the ordinary holy

The article is a first-person reflection by Nick Leeper, a Jesuit artist and scholastic, on the Biennale d'Art Contemporain Sacré in Menton, France. Leeper describes entering the Grand Hôtel des Ambassadeurs expecting a traditional sacred art show but finding abstract sculptures, Venetian glassworks, and Man Ray's mirrors alongside his own works and those of artists like Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama, and Gerhard Richter. The biennale, founded in 2019 by Liana Marabini, features 180 artists from 29 countries exploring the theme of forgiveness, prompting viewers to question what makes art sacred.

the secret islamic devotional art that depicts muhammad 217729

The article explores the little-known tradition of figurative Islamic art depicting the prophet Muhammad, which has existed since at least the 13th century in Persian and Turkish cultures. It notes that while a ban on such imagery is widely observed in Arab countries, no explicit prohibition appears in the Quran, and devotional images—often in miniature form—have been created by Muslims for personal and religious use. Examples include a mural in Tehran and a work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Scholars like John Esposito, Omid Safi, and Christiane Gruber are quoted to contextualize this tradition in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, which reignited debate over depictions of Muhammad.

Façade collapse and vandalism at the Saint-Roch church in Paris

Effondrement de façade et vandalisme à l'église Saint-Roch de Paris

A significant portion of the cornice on the right side of the façade of the historic Saint-Roch church in Paris collapsed on March 9, 2026. Fortunately, no one was injured. The incident follows a pattern of similar structural failures at Parisian churches like Saint-Paul, Saint-Merry, and Saint-Augustin. Almost simultaneously, the church was targeted by vandals who severely damaged a gilded wooden altar in the shape of the Ark of the Covenant, a work from 1840 designed by architect Charles Lelong, just before its planned restoration was set to begin.

Exhibition Showcases Artistic Career of Fr. Garabed Kochakian

The St. John Armenian Church in Metro Detroit is hosting a comprehensive retrospective of the artistic career of Fr. Garabed Kochakian. The exhibition, which spans his decades-long journey as both a priest and an artist, features his work in sacred art, iconography, and architectural design, including his contributions to the bronze doors of St. Vartan Cathedral in Manhattan. Originally scheduled for a shorter run, the show's popularity has led to an extension through April 24 to coincide with Martyrs’ Day commemorations.