Spanish-born Parishioner Who Gained Fame for Botching a Famous Fresco Restoration Has Died at the Age of 94
The elderly woman from Spain who made international headlines for her infamous restoration attempt on a valuable religious painting has passed away at the age of 94.
The woman, a resident of the town of Borja in northern Spain, became a global sensation 13 years ago after she attempted to restore a 100-year-old fresco known as Ecce Homo located in her local church.
Giménez's restoration effort spread across the internet and earned the moniker "Monkey Christ", largely due to the resulting likeness of Christ's head looking somewhat like a furry primate.
Local Confirmation and Tribute
The nonagenarian's death was confirmed by the town's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, via an online statement, where he described her as a "passionate lover of painting from a young age".
"Descansa en paz Cecilia, your memory will live on with us," the mayor posted.
Arilla further referenced Giménez's "famous restoration of Ecce Homo" in the summer of 2012, which "because of the poor state of conservation it was in, Cecilia, with the best intentions, decided to apply new paint over the original".
The Artwork's History and the Fateful Intervention
The Ecce Homo ("This is the Man" in Latin) painted by nineteenth-century painter Elias Garcia Martinez had resided for more than a century in the Santuario de la Misericordia near 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 anybody who entered the Church would have observed she was painting over the original artwork.
An Unexpected Tourist Boom
The aftermath of the repaint job spawned the "Ecce Mono" internet phenomenon and transformed the once quiet town of Borja rapidly turn into a significant tourist destination.
The town, which had in the past welcomed just five thousand visitors per year, attracted over 40,000 tourists by 2013, and managed to raise over €50,000 for charity from the interest.
Currently, local authorities estimate that between 15,000 and 20,000 tourists visit Borja every year to view the notorious portrait, which is now displayed behind a protective shield of glass.
Legacy and Local Admiration
Following the wave of criticism, with support from local residents and others globally, Giménez went on to hold an art exhibition featuring 28 of her personal works.
She was commended by the mayor for her kind-hearted nature and decades of dedication to the parish.
In the end, what began as a sincere but unsuccessful act of restoration created an unlikely piece of pop culture and provided unprecedented attention and resources to a humble Spanish town.
