Comments on: The World’s Worst Art Restoration

By: RS

RS — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 23:03:16 +0000

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.

By: Botolph

Botolph — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:56:41 +0000

Was this woman perhaps a member of the “Jesus Seminar”?

By: Brande

Brande — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 13:53:27 +0000

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.

By: Jaime

Jaime — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:56:45 +0000

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.

By: jfm

jfm — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 20:46:37 +0000

In the original Jesus suffered. In the restoration, we all suffer. It’s brilliant!

Who said art should have visual appeal?

By: Peter S.

Peter S. — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 20:09:23 +0000

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.

By: David Nickol

David Nickol — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 19:20:32 +0000

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???