GLASGOW.- An oil painting featuring Madonna and her ex-husband Guy Ritchie naked is to go under the hammer.

The 2005 work titled Madonna And Guy, one of several nudes of the star by Peter Howson, is expected to fetch up to £22,00 when it goes on sale at McTear's in Glasgow this Saturday, PA reports.

"There is no doubt that the recent split of Madonna and Guy has generated increased interest in the painting,” the Telegraph quoted Brian Clements from the auctioneers as saying.

"The painting created a huge amount of controversy when it was unveiled a few years ago and I think it's safe to say it is one of a kind,” Brian added.

Madonna herself owns several of Howson's paintings. Earlier this year, a nude photograph of Madonna was sold for $37,500 (£26,100) at a New York auction.

McTear's, the Scottish auction house even sent out a press release this afternoon after the story had gone around the world. Following a “photocall” press release circulated on Tuesday 26th May the press & media arrived at McTear’s on Wednesday 27th May. Those present included television film crews, the world’s largest news agency and the world’s most influential photo agency.

The Telegraph and The Herald both ran with the story direct from the press release and it appeared in both publications today. BBC Scotland News showed fresh film footage this lunchtime (27th May) and are expected to show it on their bulletins for the rest of the day. It's also on the BBC Scotland website and on the main National BBC Ceefax section at page 504.

Peter Howson was born in London in 1958. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art from 1975-1977 and again between 1979 and 1981 under Alexander Moffat. In 1985 he became Artist-in-Residence at St Andrews University.

The Imperial War Museum and Times Newspaper appointed Howson official British War Artist for Bosnia in the spring of 1993. He made two visits to the country in June and December of that year, travelling with the British forces participating in the United Nations Protection Force. In June he went to Travnik, Gornji Vakuf, Prozor and Vitez, but was forced to return early because of illness. During this visit he was under the scrutiny of a BBC television crew for a "Forty Minutes" documentary entitled 'War Artist'.