🔗 Share this article

The Spanish parishioner who achieved global fame for her infamous restoration attempt on a cherished religious painting has passed away at the age 94.

The woman, a resident of the town of Borja in northern Spain, rose to prominence 13 years ago after she attempted to repaint a century-old fresco titled Ecce Homo located in her local church.

Giménez's handiwork quickly went viral and was dubbed "Monkey Christ", because the altered depiction of Christ's head bearing a resemblance to a furry primate.

Local Announcement and Tribute

The 94-year-old's death was confirmed by Borja's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, in a social media post, where he acknowledged her as a "passionate enthusiast 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 "famous restoration of Ecce Homo" in August 2012, which "because of the deteriorated condition it presented, Cecilia, acting in good faith, decided to repaint the work over".

The Artwork's Background and the Fateful 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.

In 2012, Giménez, then 81, explained that church members had "traditionally fixed everything here", and that she had received permission from the local priest to proceed.

She also noted that anybody who came into the Church would have seen she was painting over the original artwork.

An Unexpected Economic Lifeline

The impact of the repaint job spawned the "Monkey Christ" meme and transformed the previously sleepy town of Borja quickly become a significant tourist destination.

The town, which had previously welcomed just five thousand visitors per year, attracted more than 40,000 tourists by 2013, and managed to raise over €50,000 for charity from the attention.

Today, local authorities say that somewhere around 15,000 and 20,000 tourists travel to Borja each year to view the famous portrait, which is now displayed behind a protective shield of glass.

Later Life and Community Admiration

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

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

In the end, what began as a sincere but flawed act of restoration forged an improbable piece of pop culture and brought remarkable attention and resources to a humble Spanish town.