Spanish fresco ruined by good intentions

This combination of two undated handout photos made available by the Centro de estudios Borjanos shows the 20th century Ecce Homo-style fresco of Christ before, left, and after an elderly amateur artist Celia Gimenez 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 Jimenez was only trying to help.

The amateur art restorer, a resident of Borja, Spain who is in her 80s, saw a deteriorating fresco of Jesus Christ in her local church and thought she could fix it.

The results were less than successful.

The fresco, titled "Ecce Homo," was painted by famous Spanish artist Elias Garcia Martinez. Seeing it worn down in the Sanctuary of Mercy Church, Jimenez took it upon herself to freshen it up, according to Spanish news agency EFE.

"Until now she just painted on the tunic but the problem started when she painted the head as well, because she has destroyed this painting," said Teresa Garcia, the painter's granddaughter.

While the octogenarian has acknowledged the damage, she told state-run TVE that the parish priest authorized the restoration.

"The priest knew! He did! How could we do something like that without permission? He knew," Jimenez said. "Everybody who came into the church could see me as I was painting. I didn't do anything secretly."

The town's culture councilor, Juan Jose Ojeda, said that a team of professional restorers will visit the site to assess what can be done to salvage the work.

[Zcoatail]

"The lens of fear magnifies the size of the uncertainty" -Charles Swindoll
"The truth is more important than the facts." - Frank Lloyd Wright
"As outward beauty disappears one must hope it goes in!" -Tennessee Wms
"Faith is the inborn capacity to see God behind everything: -Osward Chambers
"God reveals himself in our most stressful moments." Mother Teresa
"We don't call a "thing", a "Thing"! -Iyanla V
...my point
We still try to ignore the "ugliness" that is within "us".
Our job is still to "LOVE" all; God's job is to change us (if we let Him).
Sara Dover is not crazy; Dover is not over... in fact, she moved to greener pastures!
What do God really look like? You? Me? Do "we" decide who he uses...
or do "we" keep allowing others to "use and abuse' to whom WE REALLY belong?

Perhaps God used the hands of a capable artist to reveal the ugliness in us all!
The man in the mirror is always hard to look at; face You, face the world.
That "restoration" is God trying to help us face the world in our most stressful times.
Look at me, looking back at you...trying to ignore ME & YOURSELVES... now that's crazy!
Just Love... and help someBODY's faith can be "restored" went they look at YOU!
Don't make a difference, BE the difference! Please. GIVE HOPE, by faith ...not by sight!

[Zcoatail]

"The lens of fear magnifies the size of the uncertainty" -Charles Swindoll "The truth is more important than the facts." Frank Lloyd Wright "As outward beauty dispappears one must hope it goes in!" -Tennessee Wms "Faith is the inborn capacity to see God behind everything: -Osward Chambers "God revails himself in our most stressful moments." Mother Teresa "We don't call a "thing", a "Thing"! -Iyanla V ...my point: We still try to ignore the "ugliness" that is within "us". Our job is still to "LOVE" all, God's job is to change us (if we let Him). Sara Dover is not crazy. What do God really look like? You? Me? Perhpas God used the hands of a capable artist to revail the ugliness in us all! The man in the mirror is always hard to look at... face You, face the world. That "restoration" is God trying to help us face the world in our most stressful times. Look at me, looking back at you...trying to ignore YOURSELVES... now that's crazy! Just Love... and help someBODY restore HOPE, by faith ...not by sight!

[davehk]

I don't know that I'd call myself "people", but I did. It comes in a fetching green. Hopefully I"ll have it by next week.

[yukiklio]

That's exactly what happened in Mr.Bean movie:)

[mccgeno]

What's the problem? Now, it looks like a Picasso. Only better.

[webdepot]

Man, she didn't even TRY to "restore" the fresco, she just treated it as a blank canvas and painted her own version.. Restoration is like digital manipulation, it is done one 'pixel' at a time, matching the adjacent color and flow.. Hope they can 'lift' her paint from the fresco without totally obliterating it.

[melbatom]

This is obviously deliberate as it destroyed the picture of Christ that appears in the orginal painting. Question is WHY??

[BusterMom]

Awww, I don't think it was intentional. I kinda like the new version. It's sweet. :)

[whynotty]

Dismayed at Terrell's off the cuff patronizing and condescending remarks regarding Cecelia Jimenez' obvious unsuccessful efforts to restore this painting. Her age was as much a part of this story as was the outcome. To editorialize about her with "bless her sweet heart. I'm sure she meant well" was tasteless. Had she simply been an untalented younger woman or man, would his comments have been just as insensitive? This is just another example of Terrell's confusion about where his talents lie...."Comedy Central" or "Up to the Minute?" Get over yourself!

[smartalecq]

my 7 year old can do a better job

[whoisbob]

Everybody attack this old lady ... but we think she is awesome ! SUPPORT HER with this t-shirt !http://www.liuzzosfactory.it/2012/08/support-creativity/

[Lindag20]

Do you think that people are actually going to buy and WEAR a "monkey Jesus" T-shirt?

[FendAshes]

I highly doubt this shirt "supports" her. What proceeds are going to the old woman? And if she is benefiting from this kind of support, she may want to save it for possible legal funds for appearing to have destroyed a work of art for monetary purposes.
Just thoughts.

To answer Lindag, Atheists and Evolutionary believers would likely buy a monkey Jesus shirt.