A SPANISH WOMAN whose failed attempt to restore a 100-year-old fresco painting of Jesus Christ made international headlines has died.

Cecilia Giménez Zueco rose to fame after media covered her 2012 botched restoration of the Ecce Homo fresco at a church in Borja, northeastern Spain.

The painting, which was originally painted by local artist Elias Garcia Martinez in the 1910s, is on display in the Sanctuary of Mercy church.

The painting was originally painted by local artist Elias Garcia Martinez in the 1910s Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Ms Giménez Zueco’s attempt at restoration was made fun of online as it left Christ’s face unrecognisable, and appeared to create a mane of hair around his face.

The mane led the small painting to be nicknamed the “Monkey Christ”.

After news broke of the restoration the small town of Borja saw a boom in tourism from people eager to see it.

The foundation that manages the Sanctuary of Mercy Church confirmed Ms Giménez Zuecos’s death today. It said the painter was born 23 January 1931, making her almost 95 years old.

Ecce Homo before and after the restoration Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

In a heartfelt post on social media, the foundation remembered Ms Giménez Zueco as a “great lover” of painting who decided to repaint the original Ecce Homo with “the best of intentions” due to its poor state of conservation.

“To speak of Cecilia is to speak of a devoted mother, of struggle, of strength, but above all, it is to speak of generosity, qualities that have earned her the affection of everyone,” the post said.

The foundation said Ms Giménez Zueco previously donated her painting The Wineries of Borja to raise funds for people in need.

With additional reporting from AFP