I’ve worked in art restoration. And had some minor training, Although normally I’m working in collaboration with a trained art conservator. There is some regulation in Europe and perhaps other countries, but in the United States there is absolutely no licensing for art conservation. Anybody can just say they can do this. Buyer beware.
My work has been in mostly lesser known churches or government buildings across the central United States. At least three or four times I worked on repairing restorations that were really butchered jobs done by some local “artist.”
This is a bit of a plague, beautiful art being restored by untrained or incompetent individuals. You only hear about the important work that’s destroyed.
I remember seeing the original, “ Beast Jesus,” and laughing my head off. But it’s really sad.
Nobody is explaining whether this is a copy from Murillo’s studio, or something done later. It could be very well be a copy that was done only 100 years ago.