Spanish Parishioner Who Found Notoriety for Mishandling a Famous Fresco Restoration Has Died at Age 94
The elderly woman from Spain who made international headlines for her poorly executed restoration attempt on a valuable Jesus Christ fresco has died at the age 94.
Cecilia Giménez, a resident of the town of Borja in northern Spain, became a global sensation 13 years ago after she attempted to restore a 100-year-old fresco known as Ecce Homo located in her local church.
Giménez's restoration effort spread across the internet and earned the moniker "Potato Jesus", largely due to the resulting likeness of Christ's head looking somewhat like a furry primate.
Local Confirmation and Tribute
The 94-year-old's passing was confirmed by the town's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, in a social media post, where he acknowledged her as a "passionate lover of painting from a young age".
"Rest in peace Cecilia, we will always remember you," Arilla wrote.
Arilla also paid tribute to Giménez's "famous restoration of Ecce Homo" in the summer of 2012, which "due to the poor state of conservation it was in, Cecilia, with the best intentions, chose to repaint the work over".
The Painting's Background and the Now-Infamous Act
The Ecce Homo ("Behold the Man" in Latin) painted by 19th century painter Elias Garcia Martinez had resided for over a hundred years in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church close to Zaragoza.
At the time, Giménez, who was 81 years old, explained that parishioners had "always repaired everything here", and that she had been given the go-ahead from the local priest to proceed.
She also noted that anybody who came into the Church would have seen she was painting over the existing image.
An Unexpected Tourist Boom
The impact of the repaint job spawned the "Monkey Christ" internet phenomenon and saw the previously sleepy town of Borja quickly become a major visitor attraction.
The municipality, which had previously seen only five thousand visitors per year, attracted more than 40,000 tourists by 2013, and generated more than €50,000 for charity from the interest.
Today, officials say that somewhere around 15,000 and 20,000 tourists travel to Borja every year to see the notorious portrait, which is now protected by a protective shield of glass.
Later Life and Local Admiration
Following the wave of criticism, with support from local residents and others around the world, Giménez went on to stage an art exhibition 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 sincere but flawed art repair created an improbable piece of pop culture and provided unprecedented attention and resources to a humble Spanish town.
