The “Ecce Homo” Horse: A Restored Painting Gone Viral #3628082 (License: Personal Use)

This image juxtaposes a traditional 19th-century Spanish religious painting-likely depicting Saint James Matamoros-with a controversial close-up of the horse’s head, altered during an amateur restoration in 2012 by Cecilia Giménez in Borja, Spain. The restoration unintentionally gave the horse wide, staring eyes and a distorted snout, evoking comparisons to cartoon characters and sparking global memes. Though initially mocked, the piece later drew tourism and renewed interest in folk art preservation ethics.

Used in articles about art restoration fails, viral internet phenomena, and cultural heritage debates; matches user intent seeking humor, art history trivia, or case studies in conservation ethics.