Spanish fresco restorer wants cut of tourism boon: Report
This combination of two undated handout photos made available by the Centro de estudios Borjanos shows the fresco of Christ before (left) and after (right) an elderly amateur artist Celia Gimenez, 80, took it upon herself to restore it in the church of the northern Spanish agricultural town of Borja. / (AP Photo/Centro de estudios Borjanos)
(CBS News) - Cecilia Gimenez's attempt at restoring a fading fresco of Jesus Christ garnered worldwide attention - for all the wrong reasons. Now the Spanish octogenarian is aiming to have the last laugh.
Gimenez noticed the deteriorating artwork at her local church in Borja, Spain, and decided she would work to repair it. Despite her best intentions, the result was a cartoon-like image that masked the fresco by 19th-century Spanish artist Elias Garcia Martinez.
But after images of Gimenez's work were broadcast around the world, tourists began flocking to the Sanctuary of Mercy church to see the restoration in person.
And the amateur artist wants a portion of the tourism proceeds, El Correo reports.
According to the Spanish newspaper, approximately 30,000 people have traveled to see the fresco since news of the restoration went public in August.
Spanish fresco ruined by good intentions
Ruined fresco draws attention, fans in Spain
The Sancti Spiritus Hospital Foundation, the owner of the sanctuary that houses the destroyed painting, began charging admission Sept. 15 and has already made 2,000 euros, the report said.
Gimenez believes she is entitled to some of the earnings, and she and her family have hired lawyers to help them make their case.
Gimenez isn't alone in wanting to benefit from the town's tourism boom. According to El Correo, no-frills airline Ryanair is offering travelers a 12-euro flight to Zaragoza, near the now-infamous fresco's hometown.
Popular on CBSNews.com
- Mexico's drug war 20 Photos
- U.K. official: London attack suspects probed before
- Tokyo's rockabilly scene 16 Photos
- Graphic video: Man dead in "truly shocking" London attack Play Video
- Muslim hard-liners ID suspect in London attack
- Man dead in "truly shocking" London attack 253 Comments
- Slain London soldier was 25-year-old drummer, father
- London soldier slaying homegrown Islamic extremism?
However:
She doesn't need the churches money, :-), she's become a "noted", :-), artist in her own right! LET her set up shop in the village and sell her "creations" there!
The church will make its money...and... she will make hers too, ...hopefully a chance at a "better" life for all involved.
"The authorities in Borja said they had suspected vandalism at first, but then determined that the shocking alterations had been made by an elderly parishioner. The authorities said she had acted on her own."
Since she acted "on her own" it sounds like she should be fined for vandalism and then forced to pay for the damages to an irreplaceable painting. Here the church tried to make lemons out of lemonade and now she wants a cut of the earnings? I hope the church files charges and forces her to pay their court fees and damages. I really can't believe this woman would choose to go this route after clearly botching the "restoration". Maybe she's completely delusional due to her age and sincerely believes she created a masterpiece and that's why people are visiting the work. Likely it'll simply be thrown out of court. Sincerely, she doesn't deserve a penny.