🔗 Share this article Spanish-born Woman Who Gained Fame for Botching a Famous Painting Repair Has Died at Age 94 The handiwork of the Ecce Homo painting. The Spanish parishioner who achieved global fame for her poorly executed repair job on a cherished Jesus Christ fresco has passed away at the age 94. The woman, from the town of Borja in northeast Spain, became a global sensation thirteen years ago after she attempted to restore a 100-year-old painting known as Ecce Homo located in her local church. Giménez's handiwork spread across the internet and earned the moniker "Potato Jesus", because the altered likeness of Christ's head bearing a resemblance to a furry primate. Official Announcement and Tribute The 94-year-old's passing was announced by Borja's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, in a social media post, where he described her as a "great enthusiast of painting from a young age". "Rest in peace Cecilia, your memory will live on with us," Arilla wrote. Arilla also paid tribute to Giménez's "now-legendary restoration of Ecce Homo" in August 2012, which "due to the poor state of conservation it was in, Cecilia, acting in good faith, decided to repaint the work over". The Painting's Background and the Now-Infamous Intervention The Ecce Homo ("Behold the Man" in Latin) by 19th century artist Elias Garcia Martinez had been held for more than a century in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church close to Zaragoza. In 2012, Giménez, then 81, stated that church members had "always repaired everything here", and that she had received permission from the local priest to do the work. She also noted that anybody who entered the Church would have seen she was painting over the existing image. An Unexpected Economic Lifeline The aftermath of the repaint job led to the creation of the "Ecce Mono" internet phenomenon and saw the previously sleepy town of Borja quickly become a major visitor attraction. The municipality, which had in the past welcomed just 5,000 visitors per year, attracted over 40,000 tourists by 2013, and generated more than €50,000 for charity from the attention. Today, officials say that somewhere around 15,000 and 20,000 tourists visit Borja every year to view the famous portrait, which is now displayed behind a protective shield of glass. Legacy and Community Support Following the initial backlash, backed by local residents and others around the world, Giménez went on to hold an art exhibition showcasing 28 of her own paintings. She was commended by the mayor for her generosity and years of dedication to the church. In the end, what began as a sincere but unsuccessful art repair forged an unlikely piece of pop culture and provided unprecedented tourist revenue to a humble Spanish town.