Cecilia Giménez, the Spanish woman globally known for her infamous "Monkey Christ" fresco restoration, died at 94. The mayor of Borja, Spain, confirmed her death in a Facebook post. Giménez gained notoriety in August 2012 after attempting to restore the 19th-century Ecce Homo painting.
The restoration, intended to save the deteriorating artwork, drastically altered the original. The altered fresco quickly went viral, earning the moniker "Monkey Christ" due to its resemblance to a monkey. Giménez, then 81, stated she had the church's permission to restore the painting.
The botched restoration unexpectedly boosted tourism to Borja. The Sanctuary of Mercy Church became a popular destination for those wanting to see the altered fresco. The incident sparked debate about art restoration, amateur intervention, and the role of AI in preserving cultural heritage.
Ecce Homo, painted by Elias Garcia Martinez, had been in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church for over a century. Its damaged condition prompted Giménez's well-intentioned but ultimately disastrous intervention. The future of the "Monkey Christ" and its impact on Borja's cultural landscape remain to be seen.
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