Cecilia Giménez, Creator of 'Monkey Christ,' Dies at 94

The Spanish woman whose failed art restoration became a global sensation has died. Cecilia Giménez was 94. She gained international fame in 2012 for her attempt to restore a 19th-century church mural. The artwork, titled "Ecce Homo," was painted by Elías García Martínez. Giménez, an amateur artist, worked on the painting in the Santuario de Misericordia church in Borja, Spain. Her restoration dramatically altered the original face of Jesus Christ. The result was widely mocked online as "Monkey Christ" and called the worst art restoration in history. However, the botched repair brought unexpected benefits. It transformed the small town into a major tourist attraction. The site drew thousands of visitors and generated significant revenue. Giménez's accidental legacy secured the damaged painting's place in modern cultural history.