Plan B Forum

An elderly parishioner has stunned Spanish cultural officials with an alarming and unauthorised attempt to restore a prized Jesus Christ fresco.

Ecce Homo (Behold the Man) by Elias Garcia Martinez has held pride of place in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church near Zaragoza for more than 100 years.

The woman took her brush to it after years of deterioration due to moisture.

Cultural officials said she had the best intentions and hoped it could be properly restored.




The woman, in her 80s, was reportedly upset at the way the fresco had deteriorated and took it on herself to "restore" the image.

BBC Europe correspondent Christian Fraser says the delicate brush strokes of Elias Garcia Martinez have been buried under a haphazard splattering of paint.

The once-dignified portrait now resembles a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic, he says.

The woman appears to have realised she was out of her depth and contacted Juan Maria Ojeda, the city councillor in charge of cultural affairs.

Art historians are expected to meet at the church soon to discuss how to proceed.

Mr Ojeda said: "I think she had good intentions. Next week she will meet with a repairer and explain what kind of materials she used.

"If we can't fix it, we will probably cover the wall with a photo of the painting."

The fresco is not thought to be very valuable, but has a high sentimental value for local people.

Our correspondent says that to make matters worse, the local centre that works to preserve artworks had just received a donation from the painter's granddaughter which they had planned to use to restore the original fresco.

dgs49 wrote: In all kindness, her end product is probably better than I could have done.

dgs49 wrote:One wonders who was asleep at the switch, and gave her unfettered access to this painting for the time it took to do this (10 minutes?).

In all kindness, her end product is probably better than I could have done.

Most people I know think that I'm crazy
And I know at times I act a little hazy
But if that's my way and you should know it
then In every way help me to show it

Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah

For most of my life I lived a delusion
Yes, material gain has caused me confusion
But slowly in time I learned that my place
Is to tell all that I meet the glory that god is

Ooh, yeah, yeah And that's why

Most people I know think that I'm crazy
And I know at times I act a little hazy
But if that's my way and you should know it
then In every way help me to show it

Ooh, yeah, yeah, yeah

Most people I know think that I'm crazy
And I know at times I act a little hazy
But if that's my way and you should know it
then In every way help me to show it

Elderly woman who botched religious fresco demands royalties

The elderly Spanish woman who ruined a religious fresco with her botched restoration is now demanding royalties from her work after it became an unlikely tourist attraction.

Cecilia Gimenez, who is in her 80s, made headlines across the world after attempting a DIY restoration that left the 19th century fresco of Christ at her local church in Borja resembling a monkey.

The altered image of Ecce Homo – Behold the Man – became an internet sensation and sent thousands of curious sightseers to the Sanctuario de Misericordia to laugh at her handiwork.

The popularity of the modified masterpiece grew with even budget airline Ryanair offering cheap deals to nearby Zaragoza airport encouraging "pilgrims" to visit the work that was quickly dubbed "Ecce Mono" – Behold the Monkey.

An internet petition to keep the repair job garnered widespread support and seizing an opportunity to swell its coffers, the church began levying a 4 euro (£3) entrance fee on visitors, earning 2,000 euros in the first four days.

Lawyers acting for Mrs Gimenez now insist she should be entitled to a cut of the profits, which she wants to go towards a charity of her choice.

"She just wants the church to conform to the law," lawyer Enrique Trebolle said. "If this means economic compensation she wants it to be for charitable purposes".

Her lawyer added that she would want any money made from the painting to go towards Muscular atrophy charities, because her son suffers from the condition.