🔗 Share this article

The elderly woman from Spain who made international headlines for her poorly executed restoration attempt on a cherished Jesus Christ fresco has died at the age 94.

Cecilia Giménez, a resident of the town of Borja in northeast Spain, became a global sensation 13 years ago after she attempted to restore a century-old painting known as Ecce Homo housed within her local church.

Giménez's handiwork quickly went viral and earned the moniker "Potato Jesus", because the altered depiction of Christ's head bearing a resemblance to a hairy monkey.

Official Announcement and Tribute

The nonagenarian's death was confirmed by the town's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, via an online statement, where he acknowledged her as a "great lover of painting from a young age".

"Rest in peace Cecilia, your memory will live on with us," 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 presented, Cecilia, acting in good faith, decided to repaint the work over".

The Painting's History and the Fateful Intervention

The Ecce Homo ("This is the Man" in Latin) painted by 19th century artist Elias Garcia Martinez had resided for over a hundred years in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church near Zaragoza.

In 2012, Giménez, then 81, stated that parishioners had "traditionally fixed everything here", and that she had received permission from the parish priest to do the work.

She also noted that anyone who came into the church would have observed she was painting over the existing artwork.

An Unexpected Tourist Boom

The aftermath of the repaint job led to the creation of 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 5,000 tourists per year, received more than 40,000 tourists by 2013, and managed to raise over €50,000 for charity from the attention.

Today, officials say that somewhere around 15,000 and 20,000 tourists travel to Borja every year to see the famous portrait, which is now protected by a protective shield of glass.

Later Life and Community Support

After recovering from the wave of criticism, with support from local residents and well-wishers globally, Giménez later hold an art exhibition showcasing 28 of her personal works.

She was commended by Borja's mayor for her kind-hearted nature and years of dedication to the church.

Ultimately, what began as a well-intentioned but unsuccessful act of restoration created an improbable cultural icon and provided unprecedented tourist revenue to a humble Spanish town.