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Jesus Fresco Artist 'Asking For Royalties'

A pensioner who horrified the congregation of her local church in Spain with a disastrous attempt to restore a fresco of Jesus, has reportedly struck again.

According to Spanish website elcorreo.com , 81-year-old Cecilia Gimenez has demanded royalties for her handiwork, after the Sanctuary of Mercy church decided to charge visitors to see the painting.

Jesus Fresco Artist 'Asking For Royalties'

The decision apparently angered Ms Gimenez, who believed she should be rewarded for her attempt to restore Ecce Homo to its original state, after the painting began to peel.

The fresco, originally by Elijah Garcia Martinez, had been admired in the church in the northern city of Zaragoza for 120 years.

When Ms Gimenez's restoration tragedy became public it caused a sensation. Pictures of her work were published in newspapers around the world, including Iran, China and the Virgin Islands.
Tourists and visitors eager to see the famous fresco soon flocked to the church, which then began charging for admission.

According to reports, the church collected 2,000 euros in the first four days.

Ms Gimenez is said to have become a recluse after news of her astonishing art skills became public. Her supporters have even set up a Facebook fan page for her.

"For all the fans of Cecilia Gimenez, who noticed that an oil painting of Jesus Christ on the wall of her local church near Zaragoza was deteriorating and decided to take it upon herself to fix the 120-year-old fresco," it says.

A woman has horrified the congregation of her church in Spain after her attempt to restore a painting of Jesus went horribly wrong.

The fresco by Elijah Garcia Martinez had been admired in the Sanctuary of Mercy church in the northern city of Zaragoza for 120 years

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http://uk.news.yahoo.com/video#video=30371267

But after noticing the fresco had succumbed to damp and much of the paint had peeled from the plaster, the pensioner, in her 80s, embarked on a secret mission to restore 'Ecce Homo' (Behold The Man) to its former glory.

When the artwork was revealed, though, the original depiction of Jesus was unrecognisable.

To make matters worse, the church had secured a sizeable donation from the granddaughter of the artist to professionally restore the fresco only weeks before.

A spokesmen for the church in Zaragoza said: "The value of the original work was not very high but it was more of a sentimental value.

"The lady, who is in her 80s, apparently considers herself to be an artist. She acted without authorisation from anyone.

"The church is always open because many people visit and although there is a guard, no one realised what she was doing until she had finished."

The woman's handiwork is being examined by art experts to see if the painting can be saved.

Wine maker Bodegas Ruberte have even launched an Ecce Homo vintage to cash-in on the story.

A statement on their website said: "Some works remain unchanged over the years. Others, such as Ecce Homo, are interpreted to write a new chapter in its history.

"A story that is part of the land of Garnacha, and that inspires the creation of a wine, whose freshness and boldness combined with more traditional processes to reveal the pleasure that newfound taste".

A group of painters calling themselves Wall People have set-up a wall in honour of Ms Gimenez's work where fans can post pictures and postcards of her fresco.

Spanish graffiti artists The Graffiti Company have also paid tribute to Ms Gimenez by creating a mural depicting her alongside her Ecce Homo artwork.

The Santi Spiritus Hospital Foundation, the owner of the church, has reportedly instructed a solicitor to handle Ms Gimenez's remuneration demand.