Spanish-born Parishioner Who Found Fame for Mishandling a Prized Fresco Repair Dies at the Age of 94

The elderly woman from Spain who achieved global fame for her infamous restoration attempt on a valuable religious painting has passed away at the age of 94.

The woman, a resident of the town of Borja in northern Spain, became a global sensation 13 years ago after she undertook to restore a 100-year-old fresco known as Ecce Homo located in her local church.

Giménez's handiwork spread across the internet and was dubbed "Monkey Christ", largely due to the resulting likeness of Christ's head looking somewhat like a hairy monkey.

Official Confirmation and Tribute

The 94-year-old's death was confirmed by the town's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, via an online statement, where he acknowledged her as a "great enthusiast of painting from a young age".

"Descansa en paz 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 poor state of conservation it was in, Cecilia, acting in good faith, decided to apply new paint over the original".

The Painting's Background and the Now-Infamous Act

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

At the time, Giménez, who was 81 years old, stated that church members had "traditionally fixed everything here", and that she had been given the go-ahead from the parish priest to do the work.

She added at the time that anybody who entered the Church would have seen she was applying paint to the existing artwork.

An Unexpected Tourist Boom

The impact of the restoration led to the creation of the "Ecce Mono" meme and saw the previously sleepy town of Borja quickly become a major visitor attraction.

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

Currently, officials estimate that between 15,000 and 20,000 tourists visit Borja every year to view the famous painting, which is now displayed behind a protective shield of glass.

Legacy and Community Admiration

Following the initial backlash, with support from the townspeople and others around the world, Giménez went on to hold an exhibition of her paintings showcasing 28 of her personal works.

She was commended by Borja's mayor for her generosity and decades of faithful service to the church.

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