BORJA – Since an 81 year old woman from Borja, Spain, restored a 102 year old Jesus fresco and butchered it up beyond recognition, the wall painting become a magnet for thousands of visitors.
Cecilia Giménez only intended to ‘restore’ the flaking Jesus fresco by Spanish painter Elías García Martínez, displayed on the wall entrance of the church in Borja.
Ecce Homo fresco (L) original painting, (C) damaged fresco, (R) ‘restored’ painting. Photo Credit: Photo News
Sadly, Giménez turned the priceless and irreplaceable artwork into a deformed, beady eyed looking Jesus that bares no resemblance to the original painting.
Art experts stated the 102 year old fresco would be lost forever.
But in an uncanny change of events, the new – modern – Jesus fresco has begun to draw crowds by the thousands from around the world.
Thousands of tourists suddenly go on pilgrimage to Borja to adore the new Ecce Homo fresco. Photo Credit: Photo News
People organize special pilgrimages to bare witness of the fresco created by Cecilia Giménez and seal their memory with a photo of themselves standing next to the new wall painting, which for many has become a symbol of reverence.
Online, more than 18,000 people have already signed a petition imploring Borja’s authorities not to change or replace the Giménez fresco, as it is now known.
The town of Borja which has about 5,000 residents, has been flooded with thousands of tourists since news spread about the ‘butchered’ Ecce Homo fresco.
The original ‘Ecce Homo’ (see this human) was painted by Elías García Martínez in 1910.
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