A MAN from Vancouver became the new owner of a controversial nude portrait of former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

    Frederick Ghahramani purchased the portrait on Canadian classifieds site Kijiji where its previous owner, public servant Danielle Potvin, had placed it on sale for US$8,800.

    The portrait entitled “Emperor Haute Couture” depicts the nude prime minister being served a cup of Tim Horton’s coffee. Harper did not actually pose for the portrait.

    The final selling price of the painting was not disclosed, but Ghahramani told the CBC that he can’t wait to show off the painting to “as many people as possible.”

    “It’s not about the nudity. It’s a good way of capturing — and I think the artist has done an excellent job of capturing the mood of the last 10 years, where you have basically had a whole group of people in Canada … who felt silenced, whether they are government ministers down to scientists, down to public servants,” he said.

    “Every time I look at it I burst out laughing,” he said. “I do that with all biting political satire. I also understand that it doesn’t come from a vulgar point of making fun of the prime minister. It comes from a very dark depressing point.”

    The sale of the painting comes after a highly contested bidding war which saw offers as high as US$12,000. The painting was first sold for US$5, 750 in May 2012 to public servant Danielle Potvin, who remained anonymous until she retired and decided to sell the painting earlier last month. (SD-Agencies)