Cecilia Giménez, amateur restorer of ‘Monkey Christ’ fresco, dies at 94
Cecilia Giménez, the 94-year-old amateur restorer who became famous worldwide after her unsuccessful 2012 attempt to restore a fresco of Christ in a Spanish church, has passed away. Her unauthorized restoration of Elías García Martínez's 1930 artwork, Ecce Homo, at the Sanctuary of Mercy in Borja, Zaragoza, was so poorly executed that it earned the nickname Ecce Mono (Behold the Monkey) or Monkey Christ. Although she initially felt upset by the ridicule, she eventually accepted the fame when the church chose to maintain her version, attracting over 130,000 visitors. In 2016, the Centro de Interpretación Ecce Homo was established, featuring multilingual exhibits and official merchandise. Giménez also showcased her original artworks in the village before her death in residential care.
Key facts
- Cecilia Giménez died at age 94 in residential care.
- In 2012, she attempted to restore Elías García Martínez's 1930 fresco Ecce Homo at the Sanctuary of Mercy in Borja, Zaragoza.
- Her amateur restoration distorted the image, leading to the nickname Ecce Mono (Monkey Christ).
- Giménez claimed she had permission from the priest.
- The church decided to keep her restoration, which attracted over 130,000 visitors.
- The Centro de Interpretación Ecce Homo opened in 2016 with multilingual displays and merchandise.
- Giménez later staged exhibitions of her original work in the village.
- She told the Guardian in 2015 that the restoration put Borja on the world map.
Entities
Artists
- Cecilia Giménez
- Elías García Martínez
Institutions
- Sanctuary of Mercy
- Centro de Interpretación Ecce Homo
- The Guardian
Locations
- Borja
- Zaragoza
- Spain