Displaying items by tag: men on the docks

The Maier Museum of Art at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia has been served a sanction by the Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) for selling off George Bellows’ “Men of the Docks.” The museum sold the painting to the National Gallery in London for $25.5 million in order to fund college operations. The Maier Museum purchased the Bellows work in 1920 with funds raised by Randolph College students.

The AAMD issued a statement on March 12 saying, “The prohibition against the sale of works of art from museum collections for such purposes is a violation of one of the most fundamental professional principles of the art museum field. That Randolph College, which is responsible for establishing policies for and overseeing the operations of the Maier Museum, continues to take such actions is a matter of grave concern to AAMD, art museums everywhere, and the public they serve."

In 2008, Randolph College was issued a censure by the AAMD for selling a Rufino Tamayo painting for $7.2 million. The AAMD, which represents 236 directors of North America’s leading art museums, has issued sanctions that will include instructions to its members to suspend any loans of works of art to and any collaboration on exhibitions and programs with the Maier Museum of Art.

The National Gallery purchased “Men of the Docks” with money from a fund established by the late philanthropist John Paul Getty. It is the first major American painting to enter the museum’s collection. The institution also owns works by American-born European artists and a minor, rarely-displayed piece by the American landscape painter George Inness. 

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.