Cecilia Giménez, the amateur painter behind the controversial 2012 restoration of the Ecce Homo in Borja, has died at 94 in a local residence in the Zaragoza town. Her action, initially criticized, drew thousands of tourists and eventually earned her affection. The event put Borja on the global map and benefited local institutions.
Cecilia Giménez gained fame in the summer of 2012 for restoring without permission the Ecce Homo painting by Elías García Martínez in Borja's Santuario de la Misericordia, a Zaragoza town of just over 5,000 residents. The octogenarian aimed to preserve the deteriorated piece, but the result, deemed a 'chapuza' by Borja's town hall due to lack of authorization and proper training, sparked initial mockery and global coverage in outlets like Le Monde, The Telegraph, and the BBC.
At first, Giménez struggled with the backlash, but the viral phenomenon turned criticism into sympathy. Thousands visited the sanctuary to see the quirky restoration, generating funds for the Fundación Hospital Sancti Spiritus and Santuario de la Misericordia, which improved facilities for the elderly and those with fewer resources. The proceeds enabled upgrades, and the event inspired documentaries, costumes, and even an opera in New York.
Giménez died on Monday in the residence where she lived with her son, who has a disability, after years of fragile health and senile dementia. The Santuario confirmed the news on social media. 'Hablar de Cecilia es hablar de madre entregada, de lucha, de fuerza, pero sobre todo es hablar de generosidad, cualidades que le han servido para ganarse el cariño de todo el mundo,' stated the Santuario. Mayor Eduardo Arilla praised her generosity, and Aragón President Jorge Azcón called her 'a good and generous person,' whose loss is deeply felt in Borja and its region.
The Interpretation Center in the church explains the painting's context and Borja's history, cementing the Ecce Homo's legacy as a local symbol.
