1. Botched Ecce Homo Restoration
Artist: Elías García Martínez ('restored' by Cecilia Giménez)
Location: Borja, Spain It might be the most famous entry on this list, but few would argue against the Ecce Homo restoration being the greatest botch job of all time. Despite the original painting being of minor artistic importance, the Ecce Homo's failed restoration by an untrained amateur thrust it into international fame. The Ecce Homo was originally gifted by a local professor in 1930, who painted it onto the wall of the Sanctuary of Mercy church. Just over 80 years later, Cecilia Giménez, an 80-year old amateur artist, took it upon herself to restore it. The restoration wasn't officially sanctioned by the church, and Giménez was in no way up to the task. By the time she was finished, the end result resembled a lion crossed with an overweight monkey. I was only trying to do a good thing, I wanted to return it to its former glory," claimed Giménez after her work went viral. "But very quickly it started to go wrong, the paint absorbed into the damp. It got out of control." Despite her work totally destroying the original art, the fresco has since become a pop culture icon, bringing in tens of thousands of tourists to the tiny church. Over 50,000 has been raised for a local charity thanks to the painting, and Giménez herself has sought a share of the church's new-found income. In fairness, considering the millions that have 'enjoyed' her work, she probably deserves it.