Cecilia Giménez, the Spanish parishioner who made headlines around the world for her botched restoration of a prized Jesus Christ fresco, has died aged 94.
Giménez, an elderly woman from Borja, northeast Spain, became famous 13 years ago after she attempted to restore the century-old painting titled Ecce Homo that was held in her local church.
Her restoration went viral and earned the nickname 'Monkey Christ', because of the head of Christ resembling that of a hairy monkey.
The 94-year-old's death was confirmed by Borja's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, in a Facebook post, recognizing her as a 'great lover of painting from a young age'.
Arilla paid tribute to Giménez's 'famous restoration of Ecce Homo' in August 2012, noting that due to the painting's poor conservation, Cecilia decided to repaint the work with the best intentions.
The Ecce Homo ('Behold the Man' in Latin) by 19th-century painter Elias Garcia Martinez has been held for more than 100 years in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church near Zaragoza.
In 2012, Giménez, then 81, explained that church members had 'always repaired everything here', and she had permission from the local priest to proceed with the restoration.
Despite the backlash initially, the incident led to the creation of the 'Monkey Christ' meme and transformed the quiet town of Borja into a bustling tourist destination. Previously receiving about 5,000 visitors yearly, by 2013, it attracted over 40,000 tourists, raising more than €50,000 for charity.
Today, authorities say between 15,000 and 20,000 tourists visit Borja annually to see the now-famous portrait, secured behind protective glass.
After overcoming the initial negativity and rallying support from local residents and art lovers worldwide, Giménez held an art exhibition showcasing 28 of her own paintings, earning recognition for her contributions to the community.
Rest in peace Cecilia, we will always remember you, Arilla wrote on Facebook.
