Via the New York Times:
An elderly woman stepped forward this week to claim responsibility for disfiguring a century-old “ecce homo” fresco of Jesus crowned with thorns, in Santuario de la Misericordia, a Roman Catholic church in Borja, near the city of Zaragoza.
Ecce homo, or behold the man, refers to an artistic motif that depicts Jesus, usually bound and with a crown of thorns, right before his crucifixion.
The woman, Cecilia Giménez, who is in her 80s, said on Spanish national television that she had tried to restore the fresco, which she called her favorite local representation of Jesus, because she was upset that parts of it had flaked off due to moisture on the church’s walls.
The Times reporter says that she left Jesus with “a half-beard and, some say, a monkeylike appearance.”
August 23rd, 2012 | 3:20 pm
I’ll say this about the “restoration.” I can hardly take my eyes off of it. I keep staring and staring at it and thinking, “How in the world???” I wonder what materials she used. Unless it was something that left the underlying painting intact and can simply be lifted off, it strikes me there is no way to do an authentic restoration now. There’s very little left of the original. Even the basic shapes don’t remain. What was she thinking???
August 23rd, 2012 | 4:09 pm
This is awful, but it’s a little bit funny at the same time, just because it’s so terrible. The simulated scrollwork at the bottom appears to curl in a direction that does not make physical sense.
August 23rd, 2012 | 4:46 pm
In the original Jesus suffered. In the restoration, we all suffer. It’s brilliant!
Who said art should have visual appeal?
August 24th, 2012 | 7:56 am
Although awful and inept, Senora Gimenez’ effort is consistent with the aesthetic found in much contemporary “art”. I would not be at all surprised to see this image on the walls of a Soho or Brooklyn gallery, or even gracing the cover of an upcoming Missalette.
August 24th, 2012 | 9:53 am
I viewed this for the first time during the national nightly news last night and was shocked. My comment reflects another aspect of our current times: Why did she perceive it ok to work on the fresco? People don’t respect boundries.
August 24th, 2012 | 9:56 am
Was this woman perhaps a member of the “Jesus Seminar”?
August 24th, 2012 | 7:03 pm
As a member of my parish altar guild, I have often sighed to myself about how hard it is to change any physical part of the church. A torn and stained purificator will sit around for years before anyone dares insist it be properly disposed of. Gifts of (beautiful) religious art remain in the working sacristy, again for years, while the altar guild, vestry, and clergy discuss where to display them.
But now I have renewed respect for not letting little old church ladies do whatever they feel like.
Links
Blogs
Find Us
Contact