Venus Banned from London Underground

A 16th Century painting of Venus featuring the Roman goddess of love wearing little but a smile has been deemed too risque for the eyes of London's Tube travellers.

London Underground bosses have banned a poster of the 1532 work by German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder, promoting an upcoming Royal Academy exhibition.

The Academy is outraged.

The nude subject and her mythologically legitimized eroticism lend the picture its charm and character. Unlike other works on the same theme, Cranach dated and marked this one with the sign of his workshop, the winged serpent.

"We are disappointed and find it quite ridiculous in this day and age," said Head of Press and Marketing, Jennifer Francis.

"The painting is around 500 years old -- it's a pure painting by a master," she told Reuters.

But Transport for London, which operates the Tube network, is unmoved.

"Millions of people travel on the London Underground each day and they have no choice but to view whatever adverts are posted there," a spokesman said.

"We have to take account of the full range of travellers and endeavour not to cause offence in the advertising we display."