Cecilia Giménez, Known for Notorious Fresco Restoration, Passes Away at 94

Cecilia Giménez, the Spanish artist who became globally infamous for her controversial restoration of a historic Jesus fresco, has died at the age of 94.

The city of Borja in the northeast of Spain verified her passing. Borja’s mayor, Eduardo Arilla, shared that she died in a local care facility.

The organization responsible for the Sanctuary of Mercy Church, where the infamous 'Ecce Homo' fresco resides, described her as passionately devoted to art from an early age. They highlighted her as one of the most well-known individuals in 2012, emphasizing her original intent was to repair the deteriorated artwork created by local artist Elias Garcia Martinez back in the 1910s.

Giménez's restoration ended up transforming Christ's image into a cartoonish figure, generating a worldwide storm of internet humor, with parodies involving well-known personalities like Michael Jackson and Homer Simpson.

The modified piece, which seemingly added features resembling a mane to Christ, earned the nickname "Monkey Christ."

While Giménez did admit to the botched restoration, she insisted during a state television interview that the church's priest had approved her efforts.

"Everyone could see me working. The priest knew about it! It wasn’t done in secret," she asserted.

The incident rapidly transformed Borja into a tourist hotspot, drawing an estimated 57,000 visitors to the then relatively obscure church in the ensuing year.

As the media frenzy waned, supporters rallied behind Giménez, enabling her to showcase a collection of 28 of her original paintings in an exhibition.