Op-Ed: Naked or nude, the tube caves on sexy poster

Officials at the London Transport Authority have beat an ignominious retreat in the face of world wide ridicule and agreed to put up posters depicting a 16th century nude painting intended to advertise an art show at the Royal Academy

After making an obscure art show for little known 16th century artist Lucas Cranach a world wide sensation the transit officials have reversed their original decision to ban the 500 year old painting on "moral" grounds. The affair cause widespread laughter in a country famous for its topless pinups, known as "Page three girls" that adorn many family newspapers. The fashion for newspaper cheesecake was started in The Sun back in 1969 when Conservative publisher Rupert Murdoch owned the paper. Asked what caused all the brouhaha Jennifer Francis, spokeswoman for the Royal Academy said:

“I think it is because she's totally nude as opposed to say she's topless. We're shocked. We wouldn't have put a poster design forward if we thought it was offensive."

Cranach's portrait of Martin Luther Although Lucas Cranach also painted several portraits of his friend, and daughter's godfather, Martin Luther as well as did illustrations for an edition of his Bible Francis explained that the painting, entitled "Venus" had been chosen because it best represents Cranach's work.

"We actually thought it was quite an innocent painting."

The posters went up on February 22 and so far there have been no reports of spontaneous orgies breaking out on the tube nor has anyone been struck blind by having to view the racy art work. Cranach's Bible illustration