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Signed by such artists as Lucian Freud, Damien Hirst, and David Hockney, the petition calls on the U.K. government to support the effort to purchase the two paintings — which it describes as “among the finest works in private hands in the world.”

The national galleries of Scotland and London are in the midst of a joint effort to raise £50 million ($77.2 million) to purchase the first of the two works, Diana and Actaeon, by December 31.

If they are successful, the second piece — Diana and Callisto — will also be offered to them.

The paintings are being sold by the Duke of Sutherland. The £50 million price per painting is estimated to be a third of what the paintings could fetch on the open market.