Spanish Parishioner Who Gained Fame for Mishandling a Prized Fresco Repair Has Died at the Age of 94
The elderly woman from Spain who made international headlines for her poorly executed restoration attempt on a cherished Jesus Christ fresco has died at the age of 94.
The woman, from 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 located in her parish church.
Giménez's handiwork quickly went viral and was dubbed "Monkey Christ", because the altered likeness of Christ's head bearing a resemblance to a furry primate.
Official Announcement and Homage
The nonagenarian's death was confirmed by the town's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, via an online statement, where he described her as a "great lover of painting from a very early age".
"Rest in peace Cecilia, your memory will live on with us," Arilla wrote.
Arilla further referenced Giménez's "famous restoration of Ecce Homo" in the summer of 2012, which "because of the deteriorated condition it was in, Cecilia, with the best intentions, chose to apply new paint over the original".
The Artwork's History and the Now-Infamous Intervention
The Ecce Homo ("This is the Man" in Latin) by 19th century painter Elias Garcia Martinez had been held for more than a hundred years in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church close to Zaragoza.
In 2012, Giménez, who was 81 years old, stated that parishioners had "always repaired everything here", and that she had received permission from the local priest to do the work.
She also noted that anybody who came into the Church would have seen she was painting over the original artwork.
A Surprising Tourist Boom
The aftermath of the restoration spawned the "Monkey Christ" meme and transformed the previously sleepy town of Borja quickly become a major visitor attraction.
The town, which had in the past welcomed just 5,000 tourists per year, attracted more than 40,000 tourists by 2013, and generated more than €50,000 for charity from the attention.
Currently, local authorities estimate that somewhere around 15,000 and 20,000 tourists visit Borja every year to see the famous painting, which is now protected by a protective shield of glass.
Legacy and Community Support
After recovering from the wave of criticism, with support from the townspeople and others globally, Giménez later stage an exhibition of her paintings featuring 28 of her personal paintings.
She was commended by Borja's mayor for her kind-hearted nature and decades of dedication to the parish.
Ultimately, what began as a sincere but flawed act of restoration forged an improbable piece of pop culture and brought remarkable tourist revenue to a small Spanish town.
