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Woman who ruined Spanish artwork says priest knew she was painting on it
TODAY ^ | Gael Fashingbauer Cooper

Posted on 08/25/2012 8:07:27 AM PDT by Alex Murphy

People around the world were shocked Wednesday when images of a ruined 19th century Spanish painting of Christ were revealed. But now the woman who altered the painting is saying a priest in the church that was home to the artwork knew she was attempting to touch up the faded piece.

Cecilia Gimenez, identified only as being "in her 80s," spoke to Televisión Española after the story spread. A reporter asked Gimenez if she had been instructed to paint on the artwork.

The BBC provides an English translation of her answer as, "Of course! It was the priest! The priest knew it, he did!"

When asked if she did the work secretly, Gimenez's translated response is, "Of course not! Everybody who came into the church could see I was painting."

But the New York Times reports that authorities in the region at first suspected vandalism, and said Gimenez had acted on her own. Authorities are considering legal action against Gimenez, the Times reports.

Television Española also spoke with Teresa Garcia, the granddaughter of Elias Garcia Martinez, the artist who painted "Ecce Homo (Behold the Man)" more than a century ago. Garcia seemed to be OK with part of Gimenez's restoration work.

"Until now, she had just painted the tunic, but the problem started when she painted on the head as well," Garcia told the reporter. "She has destroyed this painting."

Officials in the area, near Zaragoza, Spain, have contacted professional art restorers to examine the painting and suggest how it might be repaired.

Reaction to Gimenez's work has been overwhelming. Many who posted responses on TODAY's Facebook page found the final result humorous, some were outraged that Gimenez attempted to alter the work and others begged for sympathy for the would-be artist.

Wrote Geraldine Hamtil Cassidy, "Look, nobody knows what Jesus really looked like. Maybe her rendition is more accurate..."

The BBC Europe correspondent described the painting's current state as resembling "a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic."


TOPICS: Catholic; History; Ministry/Outreach; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: beholdthemonkey; catholic; eccemono
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Cecilia Gimenez, identified only as being "in her 80s," spoke to Televisión Española after the story spread. A reporter asked Gimenez if she had been instructed to paint on the artwork. The BBC provides an English translation of her answer as, "Of course! It was the priest! The priest knew it, he did!" When asked if she did the work secretly, Gimenez's translated response is, "Of course not! Everybody who came into the church could see I was painting." But the New York Times reports that authorities in the region at first suspected vandalism, and said Gimenez had acted on her own. Authorities are considering legal action against Gimenez, the Times reports.

Television Española also spoke with Teresa Garcia, the granddaughter of Elias Garcia Martinez, the artist who painted "Ecce Homo (Behold the Man)" more than a century ago. Garcia seemed to be OK with part of Gimenez's restoration work. "Until now, she had just painted the tunic, but the problem started when she painted on the head as well," Garcia told the reporter. "She has destroyed this painting."

...."Look, nobody knows what Jesus really looked like. Maybe her rendition is more accurate..."

The BBC Europe correspondent described the painting's current state as resembling "a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic."

1 posted on 08/25/2012 8:07:31 AM PDT by Alex Murphy
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To: Alex Murphy

Was the priest crzy? Was she crazy? That is horrible.


2 posted on 08/25/2012 8:10:52 AM PDT by ruesrose (It's possible to be clueless without being blonde.)
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To: Alex Murphy

Given the international coverage this has received, I would be willing to bet that there are any number of intern and apprentice restorers at the Prado who would be able and willing to do the restoration for the cost of materials, simply to make their bones in the profession.


3 posted on 08/25/2012 8:13:29 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Alex Murphy

It reminds me of what rap “artists” do to classic rock and R&B songs.


4 posted on 08/25/2012 8:15:50 AM PDT by Sirius Lee (Goode over evil. Voting for mitt or obie is like throwing your country away.)
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To: Alex Murphy

The BBC Europe correspondent described the painting’s current state as resembling “a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic.”


The National Endowment for the Arts will send her a very big check, soon!


5 posted on 08/25/2012 8:17:21 AM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse (If there is a war on women, the Kennedys are the Spec Ops troops.)
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To: Alex Murphy

6 posted on 08/25/2012 8:20:18 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Alex Murphy

The 81-year old who did this... senility has to be part of the explanation.


7 posted on 08/25/2012 8:20:48 AM PDT by James C. Bennett (An Australian.)
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To: Alex Murphy

It has a certain...uh...je ne sais quoi.


8 posted on 08/25/2012 8:22:51 AM PDT by Flag_This (Real presidents don't bow.)
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To: dfwgator
You sure that woman's Hispanic?

Looks like a typical white person. Maybe she's pulling an Elizabeth Warren or something.

9 posted on 08/25/2012 8:24:39 AM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: beaversmom; Daffynition
A little more background to the story. Thought you might like to know; it's still captivating audiences everywhere.

Much like a train wreck, you just can't look away........ The BBC Europe correspondent described the painting's current state as resembling "a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic."

10 posted on 08/25/2012 8:25:40 AM PDT by FourtySeven (47)
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To: Alex Murphy
As far as I'm concerned, her ‘repair’ job is no worse than some of the ‘priceless’ Picasso’s I've seen. And .... as you might have surmised, I know absolutely nothing about art.
11 posted on 08/25/2012 8:33:34 AM PDT by layman (Card Carrying Infidel)
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To: Alex Murphy
A political analogy would be...It looks like the difference between the Obama we were promised and the one we got!!!
12 posted on 08/25/2012 8:38:00 AM PDT by ontap
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To: layman
well you know that anything by Picasso is not art!
That's a start!
13 posted on 08/25/2012 8:38:20 AM PDT by Reily
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To: FourtySeven

It’s a Chiaroscuro Picasso with a mysterious, almost Mona Lisa-like inscrutable facial expression that captures the hearts and minds of viewers and critics alike as they wonder, just what is he about to say, “blarg” or “duh?”

The appeal of this masterpiece of naive folk painting is only heightened due to the very brave and much overdue recognition of Moorish contributions to Spanish history.

I expect leftists to begin forming protective human shields around about the chapel any day now.


14 posted on 08/25/2012 8:40:29 AM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: RegulatorCountry
You sure that woman's Hispanic?

Surely you don't expect people in Spain to look like Mexicans.

15 posted on 08/25/2012 8:40:29 AM PDT by humblegunner (Pablo, being wily, pities the fool.)
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To: humblegunner

Oh my. You mean they don’t? /s


16 posted on 08/25/2012 8:42:08 AM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: FourtySeven; beaversmom; Daffynition
>>>Much like a train wreck, you just can't look away........ <<<


17 posted on 08/25/2012 8:44:05 AM PDT by Ezekiel (The Obama-nation began with the Inauguration of Desolation.)
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To: Sirius Lee
"It reminds me of what rap “artists” do to classic rock and R&B songs."

Rap is to music as Etch-a-Sketch is to art.

18 posted on 08/25/2012 8:44:44 AM PDT by Baynative (A man's admiration for absolute government is proportionate to the contempt he feels for others)
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To: Baynative

Just had to drag the Mittster up in there now didn’t you, lol.


19 posted on 08/25/2012 8:46:53 AM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: Reily
well you know that anything by Picasso is not art!



Not true. He just found he could make more money the other way. The infuriating thing about Picasso was that he was capable of making truly great work, rather than purposefully degenerative stuff found in his cubism.
20 posted on 08/25/2012 8:48:12 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("I love to watch you talk talk talk, but I hate what I hear you say."-Del Shannon)
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