That Fresco Wasn't So Bad After All - The Woman Who Painted It Has Passed Away¶
Author: MikeTurkey, in conversation with claude
Date: 1 Jan 2026
Other Languages¶
AI-translated articles, except English and Japanese version.
The Woman Who Created "That Fresco" Has Passed Away¶
In August 2012, in the small town of Borja in northeastern Spain, an elderly woman became the center of a worldwide sensation.
Cecilia Giménez, then 81 years old.
When she attempted to restore the fresco "Ecce Homo" at her local church, Christ's face became unrecognizable, and she was mocked around the world as the creator of "Monkey Christ."
Recently, she passed away at the age of 94.
As I recall the events of that time, I would like to reflect on this story.
Tip
"Ecce Homo" is Latin for "Behold the Man,"
depicting the scene where Christ was presented before the crowd just before his execution.
A Shocking Jesus Christ¶
Even as a non-Christian, I found it shocking.
I know that Jesus Christ lived a life full of hardships.
So I wondered: is it really acceptable to portray Christ in such a gentle manner?
And of course, the fresco was poor.
In researching this article, I learned that the painting depicts the scene just before Christ was sentenced to death.
Is such an interpretation really permissible?
I naturally assumed it would be restored again as a cultural artifact.
But reality turned out differently.
Two Sons¶
Giménez had two sons. Her eldest, José, born in 1958, suffered from cerebral palsy and later contracted polio.
Her second son, Jesús—bearing the same name as Jesus Christ—was diagnosed with progressive muscular dystrophy and passed away in 1984 at just 20 years old.
Both sons had received their First Communion at the very church where she would later attempt her "restoration."
Her husband died in 1994.
Giménez worked at a local bar while continuing to support her struggling family.
In her final years, she lived with her eldest son, who has cerebral palsy, in a nursing home in Borja.
I never imagined that such a difficult life would lead to such an unexpected turn of events.
Tip
Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by brain damage that affects motor function.
Polio is an infectious disease caused by a virus that can lead to paralysis of the limbs, and once spread worldwide.
It is presumed that José was left with paralysis as a result of polio.
Muscular dystrophy is a progressive disease in which muscles gradually weaken.
Currently, there is no fundamental cure for any of these conditions.
Tip
First Communion is a Catholic sacrament in which a person receives the Eucharist (bread and wine) for the first time.
It is typically celebrated around the age of 7 or 8, marking an important milestone in a Catholic's spiritual life.
From Mockery to Compassion¶
Immediately after the restoration was discovered, media around the world reported on this "failure."
The BBC described it as "a crayon drawing of a hairy monkey," and memes flooded social media. Giménez herself was deeply hurt.
"When I came back from vacation, the whole world knew about Ecce Homo. People's reactions still hurt me," she said.
However, something unexpected happened. Tourists from around the world flocked to Borja to see the fresco.
Annual visitors, which had been around 5,000, surged to over 57,000 the following year. Ryanair even opened routes to the nearest airport in Zaragoza.
In 2013, at a town festival, thousands of people gave Giménez a standing ovation. That was the turning point.
The town embraced her, and she, in turn, came to accept her "work."
"Everyone here sees what I did differently," she said in 2015.
Where the Proceeds Went¶
Despite her difficult life, she had the opportunity to earn a substantial sum of money in her final years.
No one would have blamed her for living in luxury.
But she chose not to.
In August 2013, a formal revenue-sharing agreement was reached. Profits from merchandise sales were split 51% to the foundation and 49% to Giménez.
Her reason for seeking royalties was not greed.
Her lawyer explained: "She wanted a share of the profits to support a muscular dystrophy charity—the disease her son suffered from."
She intended to donate her earnings to support research into the illness that took her second son at age 20.
Reinterpreting That Fresco¶
Learning this, I felt compelled to reinterpret that fresco more deeply.
It was supposed to be nothing more than a failure.
What about it draws people in?
I should note that I am not a Christian. I hope you will forgive me for that.
What strikes me about this painting is that despite depicting the moment before death, there is no sense of death in it.
The full, rounded face gives the impression of someone who lived a peaceful life.
And the vacant, slightly absent-minded expression is endearingly humorous.
It feels like a scene from everyday life.
What does it mean to depict ordinary life at the moment of death?
I would like to explore this through the following story.
Mitsunari Ishida Before His Execution¶
Mitsunari Ishida (1560–1600) was a Japanese samurai who lived during the Sengoku period, Japan's Age of Warring States.
He was known as a man of integrity.
After losing the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, there is a famous episode from just before his execution.
When Mitsunari complained of thirst and asked for water, a guard told him, "There is no water, but here is a persimmon. Eat this instead."
Mitsunari replied, "Persimmons are bad for phlegm, so I will not have it."
The guard laughed, finding it ridiculous that a man about to be beheaded would care about his health: "What good is watching your health when your head is about to be cut off?"
Mitsunari calmly responded, "Those with great ambitions cherish their lives until the very end."
This story is known as a classic example of Mitsunari's unwavering spirit—remaining true to himself until his final moment.
Even at the end, he lived as he always had.
Ref. https://medical.mainichi.jp/articles/20250314/mmd/00m/412/004000c
Tip
A persimmon is a sweet, orange-colored fruit native to East Asia.
It is widely eaten in Japan, China, Korea, and also cultivated in Spain and Italy.
The fruit has a soft, jelly-like texture when ripe and is rich in vitamins.
Tip
Persimmons are not poisonous or unhealthy.
In fact, they are quite nutritious.
There are various theories as to why he made such a statement.
What Is the Message of That Fresco?¶
What does it mean to depict everyday life at the moment of Christ's execution?
Taking a hint from the story of Mitsunari Ishida, perhaps the message is:
"Even at the moment of death, remain yourself—live as you always have."
No matter how much we fear death, we all die eventually.
If that is the case, we might as well live as ourselves until that moment comes.
That is the message I received from this fresco.
I should add, however, that she probably never thought about any of this.
She simply painted the Christ that lived within her.
Someone who looked like they had lived a quiet, ordinary life—just like anyone you might meet.
That must have been her vision of Christ.
Conclusion¶
At the time, I dismissed it as nothing more than a failed work. But I was wrong.
No matter how much we fear death, we all die eventually.
If that is the case, we might as well live as ourselves until that moment comes.
I finally understand the message of this work now.
Her life afterward was remarkable as well.
Even after gaining wealth, she did not pursue a lavish lifestyle but instead donated to charity to help others.
From her work and her way of life, I can only conclude that she cherished the "simple, everyday moments."
Recently, she closed the curtain on her 94-year life.
I offer my deepest condolences.
Today is January 1, 2026—New Year's Day.
A belated Happy New Year to everyone.
This year, I hope to cherish the "simple, everyday moments," just as she did.
Tip
"New Year's Day" here refers to January 1 in the Gregorian calendar, widely observed in Western countries.
Other cultures celebrate the new year on different dates, such as Lunar New Year in East Asia,
Nowruz in Iran and Central Asia, or the Islamic New Year based on the lunar Hijri calendar.
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