Spanish Parishioner Who Gained Notoriety for Botching a Prized Fresco Restoration Has Died at Age 94

The Spanish parishioner who achieved global fame for her infamous repair job on a cherished religious painting has passed away 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 century-old fresco known as Ecce Homo located in her parish church.

Giménez's restoration effort spread across the internet and earned the moniker "Monkey Christ", because the altered likeness of Christ's head looking somewhat like a furry primate.

Official Announcement and Tribute

The 94-year-old's death was announced by the town's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, via an online statement, where he described her as a "great lover of painting from a very early age".

"Rest in peace Cecilia, we will always remember you," Arilla wrote.

Arilla further referenced Giménez's "now-legendary restoration of Ecce Homo" in the summer of 2012, which "due to the deteriorated condition it was in, Cecilia, with the best intentions, chose to apply new paint over the original".

The Artwork's History and the Now-Infamous Act

The Ecce Homo ("This is the Man" in Latin) painted by nineteenth-century artist Elias Garcia Martinez had been held for more than a century in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church close to Zaragoza.

At the time, Giménez, then 81, explained that church members had "traditionally fixed everything here", and that she had received permission from the parish priest to do the work.

She added at the time that anybody who came into the church would have seen she was painting over the original image.

An Unexpected Tourist Boom

The aftermath of the restoration led to the creation of the "Ecce Mono" internet phenomenon and saw the once quiet town of Borja quickly become a major visitor attraction.

The town, which had in the past welcomed just 5,000 visitors per year, attracted more than 40,000 tourists by 2013, and managed to raise more than €50,000 for charity from the interest.

Currently, officials estimate that somewhere around 15,000 and 20,000 tourists visit Borja every year to view the notorious portrait, which is now protected by a protective shield of glass.

Later Life and Community Support

Following the wave of criticism, backed by local residents and others around the world, Giménez later hold an art exhibition featuring twenty-eight of her own paintings.

She was commended by Borja's mayor for her generosity and decades of dedication to the parish.

In the end, what began as a well-intentioned but unsuccessful art repair created an unlikely cultural icon and provided remarkable attention and resources to a humble Spanish town.