Spanish-born Woman Who Found Notoriety for Botching a Famous Painting Repair Has Died at the Age of 94
The elderly woman from Spain who made international headlines for her poorly executed repair job on a valuable Jesus Christ fresco has died at the age of 94.
The woman, from the town of Borja in northeast Spain, rose to prominence thirteen years ago after she attempted to repaint a century-old painting known as Ecce Homo located in her parish church.
Giménez's handiwork spread across the internet and was dubbed "Monkey Christ", largely due to the altered likeness of Christ's head looking somewhat like a hairy monkey.
Local Confirmation and Homage
The nonagenarian's passing was announced by the town's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, via an online statement, where he described her as a "great enthusiast of painting from a very early age".
"Rest in peace Cecilia, your memory will live on with us," the mayor posted.
Arilla also paid tribute to Giménez's "now-legendary 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 Background and the Now-Infamous Intervention
The Ecce Homo ("This is the Man" in Latin) painted by 19th century artist Elias Garcia Martinez had been held for over a hundred years in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church close to Zaragoza.
In 2012, Giménez, who was 81 years old, explained that church members had "traditionally fixed everything here", and that she had received permission from the local priest to do the work.
She also noted that anybody who entered the church would have observed she was applying paint to the original artwork.
A Surprising Economic Lifeline
The impact of the restoration led to the creation of the "Monkey Christ" internet phenomenon and saw the previously sleepy town of Borja rapidly turn into a major tourist destination.
The town, which had previously welcomed just 5,000 tourists per year, attracted over 40,000 tourists by 2013, and generated over €50,000 for charity from the attention.
Today, local authorities estimate that between 15,000 and 20,000 tourists visit Borja every year to view the notorious painting, which is now protected by a pane of glass.
Later Life and Local Admiration
After recovering from the wave of criticism, backed by local residents and well-wishers globally, Giménez went on to hold an exhibition of her paintings showcasing twenty-eight of her personal paintings.
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 unsuccessful act of restoration forged an unlikely cultural icon and brought unprecedented tourist revenue to a humble Spanish town.
