[Alex Murphy]

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."

[ruesrose]

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

[Joe 6-pack]

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.

[Sirius Lee]

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

[Rides_A_Red_Horse]

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!

[dfwgator]

[James C. Bennett]

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

[Flag_This]

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

[FourtySeven]

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."

[layman]

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.

[ontap]

A political analogy would be...It looks like the difference between the Obama we were promised and the one we got!!!

[Georgia Girl 2]

Now it looks like Neanderthal Jesus. What a mess!

[Ditter]

I am an artist and I would not have touched this painting. She painted over the entire thing when only the left side of Jesus head and his left ear were gone. The painting should have had preservation many years ago but what she did was horrible!

[Alex Murphy]

Read on a blog this morning:

"The last time I saw a restoration turn out this badly, it was led by George Lucas."

[MDLION]

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) asked:Why weren’t we asked for a grant?

[HarleyD]

What a tragedy. Surely someone knew she was painting on this artwork. I can’t believe why anyone would allow her to have done this. That being said restoration is an art in itself and it never ceases to amaze me how they can pull a piece of work out from another. But it’s going to cost plenty.

[Revolting cat!]

Can it be restored?

[boatbums]

“Artist” she ain’t! Maybe granny needed new glasses or possibly a cataract operation?

[Revolting cat!]

A history of art moment. Like that fool Herostrates she found her way into history books.

Must be Spanish. A Hispanic would never do that!

[beaversmom]

She has inspired others: