Spanish-born Woman Who Gained Notoriety for Botching a Famous Fresco Restoration Has Died at the Age of 94
The Spanish parishioner who made international headlines for her infamous repair job on a cherished religious painting has died at the age 94.
Cecilia Giménez, a resident of the town of Borja in northeast Spain, rose to prominence 13 years ago after she undertook to restore a century-old painting known as Ecce Homo housed within her local church.
Giménez's handiwork spread across the internet and earned the moniker "Monkey Christ", because the resulting likeness of Christ's head looking somewhat like a furry primate.
Local Announcement and Homage
The 94-year-old's death was announced by the town's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, via an online statement, where he acknowledged her as a "great enthusiast of painting from a young age".
"Rest in peace Cecilia, we will always remember you," the mayor posted.
Arilla further referenced Giménez's "famous restoration of Ecce Homo" in August 2012, which "because of the poor state of conservation it was in, Cecilia, with the best intentions, chose to repaint the work over".
The Painting's History and the Now-Infamous Act
The Ecce Homo ("Behold the Man" in Latin) painted by 19th century painter Elias Garcia Martinez had resided for over a century in the Santuario de la Misericordia close to Zaragoza.
In 2012, Giménez, who was 81 years old, stated that parishioners had "traditionally fixed everything here", and that she had been given the go-ahead from the parish priest to do the work.
She added at the time that anyone who came into the church would have observed she was painting over the existing image.
An Unexpected Tourist Boom
The impact of the restoration led to the creation of the "Ecce Mono" meme and transformed the previously sleepy town of Borja rapidly turn into a major tourist destination.
The town, which had in the past welcomed just five thousand tourists per year, attracted over 40,000 tourists by 2013, and managed to raise over €50,000 for charity from the interest.
Currently, officials say that between 15,000 and 20,000 tourists visit Borja each year to view the famous painting, which is now displayed behind a protective shield of glass.
Legacy and Community Support
After recovering from the wave of criticism, backed by local residents and others around the world, Giménez went on to stage an exhibition of her paintings showcasing 28 of her personal works.
She was praised by the mayor for her kind-hearted nature and years of dedication to the parish.
In the end, what began as a well-intentioned but flawed act of restoration forged an unlikely piece of pop culture and provided remarkable attention and resources to a humble Spanish town.
