Hundreds view ‘restored’ Christ painting in Spain

Hundreds view ‘restored’ Christ painting in Spain

MARDİN - Anatolia News Agency
Hundreds view ‘restored’ Christ painting in Spain

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.