The naked Stephen Harper painting that went up for sale last week has now been purchased by a B.C. man.
Fred Ghahramani purchased the piece to send around the country to galleries and art schools.
“I view it as an important artifact of Canadian political history,” said Ghahramani. “We’ve just finished a 10-year period, where from the top down, whether it was government ministers, environmental scientists, fishery scientists, have all been silenced and told to not speak. Here we have a brilliant Canadian artist, Margaret Sutherland, who through one genius stroke of a painting, has managed to spark controversy, start the debate, and at that time, cause some outrage. But actually start the conversation about how our emperor has new clothes and he doesn’t want to listen to anybody.”
The controversial oil on canvas was listed for sale for $8,800 by its owner Danielle Potvin of Gatineau, Quebec.
The painting features the former prime minister in the buff, reclining on a lounge chair with a small dog at his feet while someone dressed in business attire offers Harper a beverage in a Tim Hortons cup.
Harper did not pose for the painting.
WATCH: Fredrick Ghahramani joined Global News on BC 1 to speak about recently purchasing the nude portrait of Stephen Harper.
Emperor Haute Couture, the official name of the artwork, was first displayed to the public in 2012 and was purchased by, at the time, a mystery art lover for $5,000. The Edward Day Gallery in Toronto declined to reveal who purchased the painting.
The owner of the painting remained a mystery up until last Monday, when Potvin came forward in an interview with the Edmonton Journal.
“I really love this piece and it’s really moving and I think it’s going to be an important part of Canadians’ political history,” Ghahramani said.
He is not sure if his wife is too thrilled with the idea of it hanging in the house, however.
“She did joke and say there’s only room for one pudgy, middle-aged man in our house and I think she means me,” Ghahramani joked.
Bidders from China and the United States also wanted to buy the painting.
-With files from Adam Frisk
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