A scandal has erupted in the Brazilian city of Carmo do Cajuru after a botched restoration of religious statues. Statues of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and other biblical figures were supposed to receive careful restoration, but instead were given a garish makeover, shocking local residents.
The statues depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ, located at the Calvary monument in the town square, had deteriorated due to exposure to rain, sun and wind over the years. The local parish decided to restore them, but the result was far from what was expected.
The restorer added thick arched eyebrows, bright red lips, bulging eyes and heavy eyelashes to the figures. The religious figures came to resemble caricatures rather than holy images. Many residents called the work disrespectful and demanded immediate rectification.
Despite the public outcry, the unusual statues made the small town popular almost overnight. Thousands of people traveled to the town to see the controversial restoration. Some took photos and laughed, while others came to pray and express their dissatisfaction with what they saw.
Under public pressure, the parish acknowledged the error and restored the statues to their original white finish. The church admitted that altering the facial features had caused discomfort to many faithful and residents, and promised to hire a qualified specialist to carry out a proper restoration.
The story reminded many of the famous incident in Spain, in 2012, when an 81-year-old amateur artist unsuccessfully attempted to restore “Ecce Homo,” a fresco depicting Jesus by Elias Garcia Martinez. The work was nicknamed ‘Monkey Christ’ and similarly attracted tourists from around the world.
