The National Gallery in London will acquire George Bellows’ ‘Men on the Docks’ for $25.5 million from Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia. The masterpiece, which is being purchased with money from a fund established by the late philanthropist John Paul Getty, will be the first major American painting to enter the museum’s collection.

The National Gallery houses one of the most celebrated collections of Western European paintings in the world and plans to expand its holdings to include paintings created outside of Europe but still in the Western European tradition. The Gallery decided to acquire ‘Men on the Docks’ because of its European-influenced technique and handling.

Borned and raised in Columbus, Ohio, George Bellows moved to New York City in 1904 to study with the influential artist and teacher, Robert Henri, and soon became the youngest member of the Ashcan School. Dedicated to chronicling the realities of day-to-day life, Bellows made a name as the boldest of the Ashcan artists. He is best known for his paintings of boxing matches and gritty New York City scenes.

The National Gallery currently has paintings by American-born European artists and a minor, rarely displayed work by the American landscape painter George Inness.