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The Best of Intentions.

By
Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario

Every once in a while I will stumble across a news article that makes my day. This particular article from U.S.A. Today certainly made me chuckle so I thought I had to share it with everybody (who reads my blog).

Apparently the fresco of Jesus in the church of the small Spanish town of Borja (near Zaragoza) had seen better days. This priceless work of art had started to fade pretty badly as old works of art tend to do. This didn't sit well with 80 year old Celia Giménez, a parishoner, who took it upon herself to touch it up. The long and short of it is that she brought her box of paints down to the church and went to work. It didn't deter her that she didn't have any formal training in the arts, or was an artist of any sort. I guess she just gave it the old college try.

After she had finished she rang the town hall to deliver the good news, the fresco looked brand spanking new again. She became a bit perturbed when the reaction to her handy work wasn't as positive as she had hoped it would be. Officials really don't know what to do now, the fresco can't be saved. I don't think it really looks anything like the original artist had intended it to look, but then again, my taste in art may be a little low-brow.

Poor Celia Giménez, someone should have told her that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Comments(9)

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Tamra Lee Ulmer
Arizona Resource Realty - Payson, AZ
NRBA ~FORCE~ Over 1000 REO Assets SOLD!

I have a friend that always says "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." How funny and great blog! thanks for sharing, Malcolm.

Aug 23, 2012 06:10 AM
Ron Marshall
Marshall Enterprises - Saint Michael, MN
Birdhouse Builder Extraordinaire

Oh, tha just makes me ill.  I know that she meant the best...but, really?  A curator or restorer isn't in her life plan at this point, I don't believe.  That was a very sad tale indeed. 

Aug 23, 2012 07:51 AM
Chris Smith
Re/Max Chay Realty Inc., Brokerage - New Tecumseth, ON
South Simcoe, Caledon, King, Orangeville Real Esta

Oh My, Malcolm... she should have started on velvet with dogs playing poker...

Aug 23, 2012 12:37 PM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Oh cringe, Malcolm!  What?  Did she use permanent marker?  I'm surprised this can't be restored.  Oh, I think I just heard a bolt of lightening...  someone's not very happy.

Aug 23, 2012 02:41 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Malcolm -- it really is a rather Simpson-esque moment --- "DOH".   Can't believe an adult who actually do such a thing -- just another example truth being stranger than fiction.   


Aug 24, 2012 03:38 AM
Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

Thanks Tamra Lee, I thought it was a funny story too.

Ron, I suppose it is a little sad, but there's probably hundreds of similar frescos in Spain.

I agree Chris, I guess she wanted to start at the top.

Sally, I'm sure the good Lord has a big sense of humour too.

Valerie, she certainly took the bull by the horns, I'm sure she had the best of intentions.

Michael, truthfully, I can believe just about anything these days when it comes to human behaviour.

Aug 24, 2012 04:06 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Poor thing really did make a mess of that original didn't she LOL. At least her heart was in the right place as they say.

Aug 24, 2012 09:23 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing your observations.  Priceless art objects need to have a high level of security.  This "restoration" is hard to imagine.


Enjoy the days of summer with your camera in hand.


 

 

Aug 25, 2012 08:35 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Malcolm - I saw this article too.  It was a bold undertaking gone wrong to be sure.  I guess we need to know when to use a handyman and when a pro needs to be called in to do the job.

Sep 04, 2012 12:05 AM