It looks like art buyers in England might not be able to get their hands on the Beatles' genitalia anymore. An exhibit depicting the penises of the Beatles (an image of which can be seen here) has been defaced while on display at the Museum of Liverpool, putting an upcoming auction at risk.

Artist Jonathan Gent created the piece of art, titled 'The Beatles in America' -- though presumably, the group actually took their penises with them wherever they traveled. "It's as intimate a piece as you can get about the Beatles," Gent says (quote via New Musical Express). "What was really what I was after because they are such a global thing -- this untouchable thing and that is what interests me most about them. So this idea of suddenly having their penises on a canvas it was, I guess, about closeness, getting close to this idol in some way." (Y'know, there's close, and then there's too close.)

The penises were rendered in still-soft oil paint (no, we did not make that part up) and labeled for each musician. Unfortunately, the penises were "pressed and smudged" in what is presumed to be a deliberate assault on the Beatles' members. The exhibit has been removed from display while specialists assess the damage.

"The damage is all the more regrettable because along with other works in the exhibition the painting is due to be auctioned to raise funds for children's charity Claire House," a spokesman for the museum says. "The decision as to whether the work will be displayed again, and included in the auction, is now dependent on what can be done to return the work to its original condition."

The piece of art was originally slated for auction on Oct. 17.

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