24 August,2012 07:30 AM IST | | Agencies
The woman was a parishioner at the Sanctuary of Mercy Church, where the painting has been displayed for more than 100 years.
Wrong strokes: The image bears no resemblance to Jesus after the woman ârepaired' it. Pic/AFP
Upset about its deterioration, the well-intentioned octogenarian applied her own talents, replacing the masterful portrait of Jesus, titled âEcce Homo' (Behold the Man), with a crudely rendered apeman.
She notified Spanish cultural officials when she realised she was out of her depth.
Expert restorers are expected to come to the church's aid next week once they've met with the woman to determine what materials she used. The painting's value is mainly sentimental.
