Cecilia Giménez, the woman behind the infamous 'Monkey Christ' mural restoration in Borja, Spain, has died at 94. In 2012, Giménez, an amateur artist, tried to fix a 19th-century mural called Ecce Homo by Elías García Martínez. Instead, her work became known as the worst restoration in history. This caused a wave of mockery and anxiety, leading her to lose 17kg. Despite the bad press, Giménez’s notoriety soon turned positive. She sold her own art on eBay and donated the money to a Catholic charity. The botched mural became an internet hit and a tourist magnet. The church now charges admission to see it, and special Ryanair flights fly visitors to nearby Zaragoza airport. Thousands still visit Borja to see the work. The fame has helped the local community. It created jobs for the sanctuary’s caretakers and brought €600,000 to the village. This money helps fund places at Borja’s elderly care home. In 2023, an opera called Behold the Man, based on the mural’s story, premiered in Las Vegas. Giménez, too ill to attend, was represented by her niece. Borja’s mayor, Eduardo Arilla, paid tribute, saying she faced a hard life. Widowed young and with two disabled children, she showed strength and generosity. The town will name the Ecce Homo centre after her and possibly a street or square. The local church called her “a devoted mother and a fighter, a strong woman” whose generosity won her worldwide affection.