For over 200 years, villagers in southern Poland have paid homage to a roadside shrine depicting Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
But now locals are up in arms after a botched renovation of the 1820 shrine has 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.
Listed in the register of monuments, any modifications to the shrine needs prior approval.
An unknown restorer appears to have 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
Authorities confirmed that no permission had been granted for the recent restoration of the shrine
However, authorities confirmed that no such permission was granted for the recent alterations.
Locals have now 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.
Yet others have likened the botched job to the infamous restoration of a 120-year-old painting which became 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.
Image shows statue of Jesus before the alterations were made
Social media users have likened the statues to characters from the Simpson’s cartoon show due to their yellow hues
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.
Mirosław Rymer, a spokesperson for the Silesian Conservator of Monuments, said of the Polish restoration fail: ‘We will now carry out an inspection to determine how much damage has been done to the monument.’
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