Spanish Parishioner Who Gained Notoriety for Botching a Famous Painting Restoration Dies at the Age of 94

The elderly woman from Spain who made international headlines for her infamous restoration attempt on a valuable Jesus Christ fresco has passed away at the age 94.

The woman, from the town of Borja in northern Spain, rose to prominence 13 years ago after she undertook to repaint a 100-year-old painting titled Ecce Homo housed within her parish church.

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

Local Announcement and Tribute

The 94-year-old's death was announced by the town's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, in a social media post, where he described her as a "passionate lover of painting from a very early age".

"Rest in peace Cecilia, your memory will live on with us," the mayor posted.

Arilla further referenced Giménez's "now-legendary restoration of Ecce Homo" in August 2012, which "due to the deteriorated condition it was in, Cecilia, acting in good faith, chose to repaint the work over".

The Painting's History and the Now-Infamous 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 close to Zaragoza.

In 2012, Giménez, who was 81 years old, stated 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 entered the church would have observed she was painting over the original artwork.

A Surprising Economic Lifeline

The aftermath of the restoration spawned the "Ecce Mono" internet phenomenon and saw the previously sleepy town of Borja quickly become a major tourist destination.

The town, which had previously seen only five thousand visitors per year, received over 40,000 tourists by 2013, and managed to raise more than €50,000 for charity from the interest.

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

Legacy and Community Support

Following the wave of criticism, backed by the townspeople and well-wishers around the world, Giménez later hold an exhibition of her paintings showcasing 28 of her personal paintings.

She was commended by the mayor for her generosity and years of faithful service to the church.

Ultimately, what began as a sincere but unsuccessful art repair forged an unlikely piece of pop culture and provided remarkable attention and resources to a humble Spanish town.