Spanish Woman Who Gained Notoriety for Mishandling a Famous Fresco Repair Dies at the Age of 94
The Spanish parishioner who made international headlines for her infamous restoration attempt on a valuable religious painting has passed away at the age 94.
The woman, from the town of Borja in northern Spain, rose to prominence thirteen years ago after she attempted to repaint a 100-year-old painting titled Ecce Homo housed within her local church.
Giménez's handiwork spread across the internet and was dubbed "Monkey Christ", because the altered likeness of Christ's head bearing a resemblance to a furry primate.
Official Confirmation and Tribute
The nonagenarian's passing was announced by Borja's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, via an online statement, where he acknowledged her as a "passionate enthusiast of painting from a young 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 August 2012, which "because of the deteriorated condition it was in, Cecilia, acting in good faith, chose to repaint the work over".
The Artwork's Background and the Now-Infamous Intervention
The Ecce Homo ("Behold the Man" in Latin) painted by 19th century artist Elias Garcia Martinez had been held for over a hundred years in the Santuario de la Misericordia near Zaragoza.
In 2012, Giménez, who was 81 years old, explained that church members had "always repaired everything here", and that she had received permission from the parish priest to proceed.
She added at the time that anyone who came into the Church would have seen she was applying paint to the existing image.
A Surprising Tourist Boom
The impact of the restoration spawned the "Monkey Christ" meme and saw the once quiet town of Borja quickly become a major tourist destination.
The town, which had in the past welcomed just five thousand tourists per year, received more than 40,000 tourists by 2013, and managed to raise over €50,000 for charity from the attention.
Today, local authorities say that somewhere around 15,000 and 20,000 tourists visit Borja every year to view the notorious painting, which is now displayed behind a protective shield of glass.
Legacy and Community Admiration
After recovering from the initial backlash, with support from the townspeople and well-wishers around the world, Giménez later stage an exhibition of her paintings showcasing 28 of her personal works.
She was praised by the mayor for her generosity 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 small Spanish town.
