Spanish Woman Scorned, Then Loved, for Botched Fresco Restoration Dies at 94

Cecilia Giménez, the Spanish amateur painter known for her infamous 2012 restoration of a church fresco of Jesus, has died at age 94. Giménez's attempt to restore Elías Garcia Martínez's "Ecce Homo" in Borja, Spain, resulted in a widely mocked image that went viral. While initially criticized and suspected of vandalism, the botched restoration unexpectedly drew tourists to the small town, revitalizing its economy. Giménez maintained she had the priest's knowledge and good intentions when attempting to repair the flaking fresco. Despite the initial backlash and personal distress, her work ultimately brought unexpected fame and economic benefit to her community.

Cecilia Giménez, the Spanish woman who gained international notoriety for her botched restoration of the "Ecce Homo" fresco in Borja, Spain, died at age 94. In 2012, Giménez, then 81, attempted to restore the 19th-century painting in her local church, resulting in a widely ridiculed image nicknamed "Monkey Christ." Despite the initial backlash, the altered fresco became a tourist attraction, drawing thousands of visitors to the small town and generating revenue for charity. Giménez, who said she had permission to restore the painting, later held her own art exhibition. The mayor of Borja acknowledged her dedication to the church and generosity in a Facebook post confirming her death.