Behold the royalty claim of fresco 'restorer'

MADRID: The elderly Spanish woman who ruined a religious fresco with her ham-fisted amateur restoration is demanding royalties from her work after it became a tourist attraction.

Cecilia Gimenez, 80, made headlines across the world after her DIY restoration left the 19th-century fresco of Christ resembling a monkey.

Her alteration of Ecce Homo - Behold the Man - became an internet sensation and sent thousands of curious sightseers to the Santuario de Misericordia church in Borja to see her handiwork.

Authorities threatened to sue Mrs Gimenez for her unauthorised restoration, which she insisted had been carried out with only good intentions because the painting was in need of repair.

But the popularity of the work grew, and the airline Ryanair began offering cheap deals to nearby Zaragoza airport encouraging ''pilgrims'' to visit the work, which was quickly renamed Ecce Mono - Behold the Monkey.

An internet petition to keep the repair job gathered widespread support and the church began charging a €4 ($5) entrance fee, earning €2000 in the first four days.

Lawyers acting for Mrs Gimenez insist she should be entitled to a cut of the profits.

''She just wants the church to conform to the law,'' said her lawyer, Enrique Trebolle,. ''If this means economic compensation she wants it to be for charitable purposes.''

Mr Trebolle said she would want any money to go towards muscular atrophy charities because her son has the condition.

The family of the fresco's original artist, Elias Garcia Martinez, have said they will seek legal action against Mrs Gimenez for ''destroying'' the work.

Telegraph, London