'Botched' restoration to church Virgin Mary statue sparks huge protests from furious worshippers in Spain

Daily Mail​

24-06-2025

The restoration of an iconic 17th century statue of the Virgin Mary has sparked huge protests in Seville after worshippers said her makeover left her looking like she had undergone plastic surgery.
The Virgin of La Macarena is one of Spain 's most famed Catholic effigies, and many Spaniards travel south every year to catch a glimpse of the wooden figure during the city's Holy Week parades.
So when the Brotherhood of the Macarena unveiled the surprise restoration over the weekend, her devotees were outraged, with critics saying she had been disfigured.
According to her worshippers, her face was given a glossier finish, while her eye lashes were made longer, which they say altered her gaze.
'Her facial expression has completely changed,' one outraged worshipper told Spanish newspaper El Pais. 'It pains me deeply to say it, but she looks like a poor copy of the original.'
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the Basilica de la Macarena on Monday calling for the resignation of the brotherhood's leader.
Footage shows faithful gathered round the church singing hymns about the Virgin as they demanded answers.
'This isn't her; this isn't the Virgin of Seville. It's sad. My heart is about to burst out,' one protester told ABC newspaper. 'They should have left her as she was.'
Such has been the outrage that the statue is reported to have undergone two more restorations in less than 24 hours to get her back to her original state.
The brotherhood issued an apology and closed the basilica over the weekend, and the Virgin has since emerged with shortened eyelashes after efforts to correct an 'undesired effect.'
The religious icon's controversial makeover has been likened to the botched art restoration of a painting of Jesus Christ, which resulted in the painting being dubbed: 'Monkey Christ'.
In 2012, Cecilia Giménez, 82, decided to touch up the 'Ecce Homo' (Behold The Man) fresco in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy church in Borja, northern Spain.
However, her brushwork completely obliterated the face of Jesus transforming the painting into what locals described as more like a hedgehog or hairy monkey rather than Jesus.
It also comes after a Polish village was outraged earlier this year after a botched renovation of a 1820 shrine of Jesus and the Virgin Mary left the Blessed Mother looking like a 'Simpsons' cartoon character.
Once described by experts as 'tall and slender', the Virgin Mary statue just outside the village of Stuszionka now has oversized mitten-like hands, exaggerated eyes and a crooked frown accentuated by bright red lipstick.
The figure of Jesus, meanwhile, appears to be wearing grey underpants, and both figures have been repainted with an unnatural yellow hue.
Posting a photo on Facebook, the Conservator of Monuments said: 'A rather rare depiction of the Virgin Mary looking upwards.
'Another example of good intentions... Let's hope that in the near future this valuable object will receive professional conservation, because it deserves it very much.'
It added that the unknown restorer had also painted over the shrine's original German inscription, replacing it with the markings 'VII 2024, JC 2,' written in what appears to be a black marker pen.
Locals vented their fury with the botch job, with some describing it as 'desecration'.
Posting on social media, one outraged viewer said: 'The times of the greatest barbarity and ignorance of Spirit and Reason have come.'
Another commented: 'I would take a risk and notify the prosecutor's office about offending religious feelings. Because this is nothing more than an example of desecrating an object of religious worship.'
'It looks more like Bart Simpson than The Mother Mary,' said another.