The local parish decided to restore the figures of Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and a scene from the Passion of Christ—which had faded from exposure to the sun and rain—installed in the town square. However, the result was far from the traditional notion of “careful restoration,” according to the New York Post.
Instead of a careful reconstruction of the statues’ facial features, they were given striking cosmetic details—thick black eyebrows, deep red lips, and heavy eye makeup. The revamped appearances shocked some residents, who considered the alterations to the sculptures inappropriate and even offensive.
The scandal quickly spread beyond the city limits. Some residents demanded that the statues be immediately restored to their former appearance, while others viewed the updated figures with irony; the site unexpectedly became a magnet for curious tourists and photographers.
In the face of public pressure, the parish acknowledged its mistake. The statues were promptly repainted, restoring their neutral white appearance. The parish stated that the chosen approach to restoration had been incorrect and promised to bring in more qualified specialists.
The story in Carma do Caju quickly gained international attention, bringing to mind similar incidents where botched attempts to restore religious images unexpectedly turned into viral tourist attractions.
