 In February 2014 , Men of the Docks , by U.S. artist George Bellows , was bought by the National Gallery for $ 25 @.@ 5 million ( £ 15 @.@ 6 million ) . It was the first major American painting to be purchased by the Gallery . Director Nicholas Penny termed the painting a new direction for the Gallery – a non @-@ European painting in a European style . Its sale was controversial in the U.S. 
