Spanish Parishioner Who Found Fame for Mishandling a Prized Painting Restoration Has Died at the Age of 94
The Spanish parishioner who achieved global fame for her poorly executed restoration attempt on a valuable Jesus Christ fresco has died at the age of 94.
The woman, a resident of the town of Borja in northeast Spain, rose to prominence 13 years ago after she attempted to repaint a 100-year-old painting known as Ecce Homo located in her parish church.
Giménez's restoration effort quickly went viral and earned the moniker "Monkey Christ", because the resulting likeness of Christ's head looking somewhat like a furry primate.
Local Confirmation and Homage
The nonagenarian's passing was confirmed by Borja's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, via an online statement, where he acknowledged her as a "great lover of painting from a very early age".
"Descansa en paz Cecilia, we will always remember you," the mayor posted.
Arilla further referenced Giménez's "now-legendary restoration of Ecce Homo" in the summer of 2012, which "due to the poor state of conservation it presented, Cecilia, with the best intentions, decided to repaint the work over".
The Artwork's History and the Now-Infamous Intervention
The Ecce Homo ("Behold the Man" in Latin) painted by nineteenth-century painter Elias Garcia Martinez had been held for over a century in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church close to Zaragoza.
At the time, Giménez, who was 81 years old, explained that church members had "always repaired everything here", and that she had been given the go-ahead from the local priest to do the work.
She also noted that anyone who came into the Church would have seen she was painting over the existing artwork.
A Surprising Economic Lifeline
The impact of the restoration spawned the "Ecce Mono" meme and saw the once quiet town of Borja rapidly turn into a major visitor attraction.
The town, which had previously seen only five thousand 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 portrait, which is now displayed behind a protective shield of glass.
Later Life and Local Admiration
Following the initial backlash, backed by local residents and others globally, Giménez later hold an art exhibition showcasing 28 of her personal works.
She was praised by Borja's mayor for her kind-hearted nature and years of dedication to the church.
Ultimately, what began as a sincere but flawed act of restoration created an improbable piece of pop culture and brought remarkable attention and resources to a humble Spanish town.
