A nude painting of Irish PM Brian Cowen popped up mysteriously in one of Dublin's most prestigious institutions, snuck in by someone with a subversive sense of humor, and also perhaps with an ax to grind.

An 'anonymous donor' hung the nude painting of Cowen in the Royal Hibernian Academy. It shows a jowly Cowen with a beer belly or perhaps Guinness belly, holding a pair of dangling Y-fronts.

The beer belly has a touch of realism about it. Cowen is fond of saying "I was reared in a pub". His old man owned a public house in Clara and Brian apparently was very handy at serving up the pints.

Another painting that depicts Cowen sitting on a toilet holding a roll appeared briefly on the walls of the National Gallery. A Gallery spokesperson said that it had been up for about 20 minutes before it was removed.

A woman who saw the Cowen-with-undies one at the Royal Hibernian offered to buy it.

As far as a critique goes, James O'Halloran of Adam's Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers was quite impressed. He said 'It's reasonably well painted. It's not the worst thing I've ever seen."

Obviously this is a bit more than a jest. Whoever went to the trouble to turn out a Lucien Freud-like effort wasn't content with a bit of graffiti on a wall. If the intent was to humiliate Cowen it has worked with half the world being treated to a glimpse of him looking less than statesmanlike.

Brian Cowen isn't universally loved in Ireland. In addition to the budget fiasco he has a bit of an attitude when it comes to the Lisbon Treaty. Recently he said that people who are against the Lisbon Treaty are anti-EU, which isn't necessarily true.

He's also come off with remarks that live up to his nickname BIFFO - the nickname given to him by the tabloids meaning Big Ignorant Fucker From Offaly. The Irish Independent came up with another nick/acronym for the Taoiseach... GRUFFALO... which decodes as Grumpy Rude Uncensored Fucker From Around Laois Offaly... although for public consumption the Independent would likely prefer "Fecker" or possibly "Fellow".

The Taoiseach certainly has a way with words. During the peace talks in N. Ireland, Martin McGuinness in responding to some proposals said "we'll have to consult the IRA army council on this". Cowen replied "Yeah, well, there's a mirror in the toilet if you want to go in there and talk to them."

In 2008 Cowen was accused of 'conduct unbecoming in the Dáil' when he said to Tánaiste Mary Coughlan - "We need to get a handle on this, will you ring those fuckers".

He does get up a few people's noses so it's possible the art ambush was a detractor's way of dishing a high-end smear. Nastiness comes off even nastier when it is delivered in the form of art rather than a scrawl on a toilet wall.

It seems the garda are interested in chatting with whoever is behind the paintings and the brief showings in the galleries.