Spanish Parishioner Who Found Notoriety for Mishandling a Famous Fresco Repair Dies at Age 94
The elderly woman from Spain who made international headlines for her infamous restoration attempt on a cherished religious painting has passed away at the age of 94.
The woman, a resident of the town of Borja in northeast Spain, became a global sensation thirteen years ago after she undertook to repaint a century-old painting known as Ecce Homo housed within her parish church.
Giménez's handiwork spread across the internet and earned the moniker "Monkey Christ", because the altered depiction of Christ's head bearing a resemblance to a hairy monkey.
Official Confirmation and Homage
The nonagenarian's death was announced by Borja's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, via an online statement, where he described her as a "passionate lover of painting from a young age".
"Descansa en paz Cecilia, we will always remember you," the mayor posted.
Arilla also paid tribute to Giménez's "famous restoration of Ecce Homo" in the summer of 2012, which "because of the deteriorated condition it presented, Cecilia, with the best intentions, decided to apply new paint over the original".
The Artwork's Background and the Fateful Act
The Ecce Homo ("This is the Man" in Latin) painted by 19th century painter Elias Garcia Martinez had been held for more than a century in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church near Zaragoza.
In 2012, Giménez, then 81, explained that parishioners had "always repaired everything here", and that she had received permission from the parish priest to do the work.
She also noted that anybody who entered the church would have seen she was painting over the original artwork.
A Surprising Tourist Boom
The impact of the restoration spawned the "Monkey Christ" internet phenomenon and transformed the once quiet town of Borja rapidly turn into a significant tourist destination.
The municipality, which had in the past seen only five thousand tourists per year, attracted more than 40,000 tourists by 2013, and generated more than €50,000 for charity from the interest.
Today, local authorities estimate that somewhere around 15,000 and 20,000 tourists travel to Borja each year to view the famous painting, which is now displayed behind a pane of glass.
Legacy and Community Admiration
Following the wave of criticism, with support from local residents and well-wishers globally, Giménez went on to hold an art exhibition showcasing twenty-eight of her personal works.
She was commended by Borja's mayor for her generosity and decades of faithful service to the church.
Ultimately, what began as a well-intentioned but flawed act of restoration created an unlikely piece of pop culture and provided unprecedented attention and resources to a humble Spanish town.
