Hundreds view ‘restored’ Christ painting in Spain

MARDİN - Anatolia News Agency

The northeastern town of Borja garnered global press attention after restoration. AP Photo

It’s been dubbed the “world’s worst restoration”, but a 102-year-old church painting of Christ that now resembles a pale monkey is drawing visitors by the hundreds to a sleepy Spanish town.

The northeastern town of Borja garnered global press attention after residents decried the well-meaning restoration efforts of Cecilia Gimenez, described as being in her 80s, who made a horribly botched attempt to restore a flaking oil painting of Christ wearing the crown of thorns.

The “restored” painting looks like a pale monkey’s face surrounded by fur, with misshapen eyes and nose, and a crooked smudge for a mouth. Some media have called it the worst restoration in history.

On Saturday, hundreds of curious visitors queued up outside the Santuario de Misericordia church.