Spanish-born Woman Who Gained Fame for Botching a Famous Painting Restoration Dies at the Age of 94
The elderly woman from Spain who achieved global fame for her infamous 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, became a global sensation thirteen years ago after she undertook to restore a century-old painting titled Ecce Homo housed within her local church.
Giménez's restoration effort quickly went viral and earned the moniker "Potato Jesus", largely due to the resulting depiction of Christ's head bearing a resemblance to a furry primate.
Local Confirmation and Tribute
The nonagenarian's passing 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 very early age".
"Rest in peace Cecilia, we will always remember you," Arilla wrote.
Arilla further referenced Giménez's "famous restoration of Ecce Homo" in the summer of 2012, which "due to the deteriorated condition it presented, Cecilia, with the best intentions, chose to repaint the work over".
The Artwork's Background and the Fateful Act
The Ecce Homo ("Behold the Man" in Latin) painted by 19th century artist Elias Garcia Martinez had resided for over a hundred years in the Santuario de la Misericordia close to Zaragoza.
At the time, Giménez, who was 81 years old, stated that church members had "always repaired everything here", and that she had received permission from the parish priest to do the work.
She added at the time that anyone who entered the church would have observed she was applying paint to the existing image.
A Surprising Economic Lifeline
The aftermath of the restoration spawned the "Monkey Christ" internet phenomenon and transformed the previously sleepy town of Borja rapidly turn into a significant tourist destination.
The municipality, which had in the past welcomed just five thousand tourists per year, attracted over 40,000 tourists by 2013, and generated over €50,000 for charity from the interest.
Currently, local authorities estimate that between 15,000 and 20,000 tourists travel to Borja each year to see the notorious portrait, which is now displayed behind a protective shield of glass.
Later Life and Local Support
Following the initial backlash, with support from local residents and others around the world, Giménez later hold an exhibition of her paintings showcasing twenty-eight of her own works.
She was praised by the mayor for her generosity and decades of faithful service to the parish.
Ultimately, what began as a well-intentioned but unsuccessful act of restoration created an unlikely cultural icon and provided remarkable attention and resources to a humble Spanish town.
