Woman Behind Viral Restoration Fail Dies at 94

The Spanish woman behind one of the internet's most infamous art mishaps has died at 94. Cecilia Gimenez, a parishioner from Borja in northeastern Spain, gained global attention in 2012 when her well-intentioned attempt to touch up a deteriorating fresco of Jesus in her local church dramatically altered the image, recounts the BBC. The 19th-century work, "Ecce Homo" by Elías García Martínez, came to be known in worldwide memes as "Monkey Christ."

Gimenez was widely ridiculed at first, but the story eventually turned, notes Artnet. She "became a hero." Her little town and the botched painting in the local church became a tourist attraction. Both she and the town made money from the resulting merchandise, and Gimenez donated much of hers to charity. As for the painting, Artnet adds some important context to the controversy: The original was, "by all accounts, an unremarkable painting by an unremarkable painter." It's not like she destroyed a masterpiece.

Today, officials say 15,000 to 20,000 people still come each year to see the image, now protected behind glass. Borja's mayor, Eduardo Arilla, confirmed the death of Gimenez in a Facebook post, describing her as a devoted amateur painter who acted "with the best intentions" when she repainted the badly worn fresco. "Rest in peace Cecilia, we will always remember you."