Spanish-born Parishioner Who Found Fame for Botching a Prized Painting Repair Has Died at Age 94
The elderly woman from Spain who achieved global fame for her poorly executed repair job on a cherished religious painting has died at the age of 94.
Cecilia Giménez, from the town of Borja in northern Spain, became a global sensation thirteen years ago after she undertook to repaint a 100-year-old painting known as Ecce Homo housed within her local church.
Giménez's restoration effort spread across the internet and earned the moniker "Potato Jesus", largely due to the altered likeness of Christ's head looking somewhat like a hairy monkey.
Local Announcement and Tribute
The nonagenarian's passing was confirmed by Borja's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, via an online statement, where he described her as a "great lover of painting from a very early age".
"Rest in peace Cecilia, we will always remember you," the mayor posted.
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, chose to repaint the work over".
The Painting's Background and the Now-Infamous Act
The Ecce Homo ("This is the Man" in Latin) painted by 19th century painter Elias Garcia Martinez had resided for more than a century in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church close to Zaragoza.
In 2012, Giménez, who was 81 years old, stated that church members had "always repaired everything here", and that she had been given the go-ahead from the parish priest to proceed.
She also noted that anybody who came into the Church would have observed she was applying paint to the existing image.
An Unexpected Economic Lifeline
The impact of the restoration spawned the "Ecce Mono" meme and transformed the previously sleepy town of Borja quickly become a major visitor attraction.
The town, which had previously seen only 5,000 visitors per year, received over 40,000 tourists by 2013, and generated over €50,000 for charity from the interest.
Currently, local authorities say that between 15,000 and 20,000 tourists travel to Borja every year to view the famous portrait, which is now protected by a protective shield of glass.
Later Life and Community Admiration
After recovering from the wave of criticism, backed by the townspeople and well-wishers globally, Giménez later hold an exhibition of her paintings showcasing twenty-eight of her personal paintings.
She was praised by the mayor for her generosity and years of dedication to the church.
Ultimately, what began as a sincere but flawed act of restoration created an unlikely piece of pop culture and provided unprecedented tourist revenue to a humble Spanish town.
