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Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rare Mahatma Gandhi oil portrait sold for ₹1.75 crore at UK auction: 'Testament to Gandhi's power'
A rare oil portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, believed to be the only one he sat for the artist to paint, has fetched triple its estimate at 152,800 pounds or ₹1.75 crore in a Bonhams auction in London. The portrait artist, Clare Leighton, was introduced to Gandhi when he visited London in 1931(Bonhams) The painting, which had never before been offered at auction, had been on offer for an online auction with a guide price range between 50,000 and 70,000 pounds and was the top lot of the Travel and Exploration sale, which concluded on Tuesday. The portrait artist, Clare Leighton, was introduced to Gandhi when he visited London in 1931 to attend the Second Round Table Conference. "Thought to be the only oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi, which he sat for, this was a very special work, which had never before been offered at auction,' said Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams Head of Sale. "Completed in London by the artist Clare Leighton, mainly known for her wood engravings, this work was a testament to Gandhi's power to connect with people far and wide, and presented a lasting document of an important moment in history,' she said. The portrait remained in the artist's collection until her death in 1989, after which it was passed down through her family. 'It is no wonder that this work sparked such interest across the globe,' added Demery. At the time of painting it, Leighton was in a relationship with the political journalist Henry Noel Brailsford. A passionate supporter of Indian independence, Brailsford had travelled to the country in 1930, later publishing the book 'Rebel India' in support of the Indian independence cause, the year he first met Gandhi at the Round Table Conference. Bonhams said that it was through this connection that Leighton was introduced to Gandhi. She was one of the very few artists admitted to his office and was allowed to sit with him on multiple occasions to sketch and paint his likeness, the auction house revealed. In November of 1931, Leighton showcased her portrait of Gandhi in an exhibition at the Albany Galleries in London. Journalist Winifred Holtby attended the opening and wrote about the event in her column for the trade union magazine 'The Schoolmistress', stating; 'Members of Parliament and ex-Members, artists, journalists and art critics, stood among exquisite Indian women in bright saris, and the dignified figures of some of the chief Hindu representatives at the Conference. Mrs Naidu, the statesman-poet, was there... and Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas, one of the Mahatma's colleagues." Gandhi himself did not attend the party, but it was noted that he was vitally present in the works on display, which included the portrait of him in oil. Describing the painting in more detail, Holtby stated at the time: "The little man squats bare-headed, in his blanket, one finger raised, as it often is to emphasise a point, his lips parted for a word that is almost a smile. That is very much as I saw him when he came as guest to a big luncheon in Westminster at which I was present a little while ago. 'He was the political leader there, the subtle negotiator, the manipulator of Congress, the brilliant lawyer, the statesman who knows just how to play on the psychology of friends and enemies alike." The following month, Gandhi's personal secretary Mohadev Desai wrote a letter to Leighton, a copy of which is attached to the backing board of the portrait. It reads: "It was such a pleasure to have had you here for many mornings doing Mr Gandhi's portrait. I am sorry I didn't see the final result, but many of my friends who saw it in the Albany Gallery said to me that it was a good likeness. I am quite sure Mr Gandhi has no objection to its being reproduced." There does not appear to be any record of Leighton's oil portrait of Gandhi being exhibited again until 1978, when the Boston Public Library staged an exhibition of Leighton's work. However, according to the artist's family, the portrait was thought to have been on public display in 1974 when it was attacked with a knife by a person. A label attached to the backing board confirms that the painting was restored in 1974 by the Lyman Allyn Museum Conservation Laboratory.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Only time he sat still for a painting: How Mahatma Gandhi's only oil portrait fetched Rs 1.6 crore
A rare oil portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, believed to be the only one he ever sat for, has fetched 1.63 crore (approx £1,52,800 or $204,648) at a Bonhams auction in London, more than double its pre-sale estimate. The painting, by renowned British artist Clare Leighton, was created in 1931, during Gandhi's visit to London for the Second Round Table Conference, which sought to discuss India's constitutional future under British rule. Bonhams had originally valued the artwork between 53 lakh and 74 lakh (between £50,000 and £70,000), but it ended up as the top lot in the auction house's Travel and Exploration sale. 'Thought to be the only oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi, which he sat for, this was a very special work,' said Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams' Head of Sale. 'It is no wonder that this work sparked such interest across the globe.' Clare Leighton, best known for her wood engravings, was reportedly one of the few artists granted permission to paint Gandhi from life. Bonhams says she was introduced to Gandhi through her then-partner Henry Noel Brailsford, a left-wing journalist and vocal supporter of Indian independence. Leighton spent several mornings sketching Gandhi at his London quarters, capturing him in his iconic seated pose — wrapped in his shawl, bare-headed, one finger raised mid-conversation. The resulting portrait was exhibited in November 1931 at the Albany Galleries in London. While Gandhi did not attend, the show drew dignitaries, Members of Parliament, and key figures from the Indian delegation, including Sarojini Naidu and Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas. Writer Winifred Holtby, who attended the exhibition, described the portrait in vivid terms: 'The little man squats bare-headed, in his blanket, one finger raised… his lips parted for a word that is almost a smile. That is very much as I saw him when he came as guest to a big luncheon in Westminster.' In a letter written shortly after the exhibit, Gandhi's secretary Mahadev Desai wrote to Leighton: 'It was such a pleasure to have had you here for many mornings doing Mr Gandhi's portrait… many of my friends who saw it in the Albany Gallery said it was a good likeness.' The painting remained with Leighton until her death in the US in 1989, after which it was passed down through her family. According to them, the portrait was attacked with a knife in 1974 while on public display and was later restored by the Lyman Allyn Museum Conservation Laboratory. The portrait was not publicly exhibited again until a Boston Public Library showcase of Leighton's work in 1978. Bonhams has not disclosed the identity of the buyer or whether the painting will be made accessible to the public in the future. (With inputs from PTI)
India Today
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Rare sitting Gandhi portrait sold in London for Rs 1.75 cr, double the estimate
A rare portrait of Mahatma Gandhi – for which he agreed to pose while seated – has sold for GBP 152,800 (approximately Rs 1.75 crore) at an auction in London, more than double its initial estimate of GBP 50,000 to GBP 70,000 (approximately Rs 57 lakh to Rs 80 lakh). The portrait was painted in 1931 by British artist Clare to the auction house, Bonhams, the painting is "thought to be the only oil portrait that Gandhi actually sat for"."The painting, thought to be the only oil portrait that Gandhi actually sat for, had never before been offered at auction. It had an estimate of GBP 50,000 - 70,000 and was the top lot of the Travel and Exploration sale, which ran from July 7-15 online," the auction house said in a statement. The rare oil painting was in Leighton's personal collection until her death in 1989, after which it was inherited by her portrait was created during Gandhi's 1931 visit to London for the second Round Table Conference, a series of conferences organised by the British government to discuss constitutional reforms in journalist Henry Noel Brailsford introduced Leighton to Mahatma Gandhi when he visited London in 1931 to attend the Second Round Table Conference. Brailsford supported India's Independence movement.A BRITISH JOURNALIST's ADULATION FOR GANDHIIn November 1931, Clare Leighton showcased her portrait of Gandhi in an exhibition at the Albany Galleries in London. Journalist Winifred Holtby attended the opening and wrote about the event in her column for the trade union magazine The Schoolmistress, Bonhams said in the described Gandhi as a subtle negotiator and brilliant statesman, capturing his iconic gesture and presence at a Westminster luncheon."The little man squats bare-headed, in his blanket, one finger raised, as it often is to emphasise a point, his lips parted for a word that is almost a smile. That is very much like I saw him when he came as a guest to a big luncheon in Westminster at which I was present a little while ago," Holtby wrote to describe the painting, according to the Bonhams was the political leader there, the subtle negotiator, the manipulator of Congress, the brilliant lawyer, the statesman who knows just how to play on the psychology of friends and enemies alike," Holtby SECRETARY PENNED LETTER EXPRESSING HIS APPRECIATIONSubsequently, Gandhi's personal secretary, Mahadev Desai, sent a letter to Leighton – now affixed to the portrait's backing board – expressing gratitude: "It was such a pleasure to have had you here for many mornings doing Mr Gandhi's portrait."advertisementAccording to the artist's family, the portrait was thought to have been on public display in 1974 when it was attacked with a knife by an RSS activist. A label attached to the backing board confirms that the painting was restored in 1974 by the Lyman Allyn Museum Conservation Laboratory, the statement 2017, a rare pencil portrait of Gandhi was auctioned for GBP 32,500 (approximately Rs 37 lakh), about four times its estimated price, according to a report by news agency PTI.- EndsMust Watch
Mint
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Mahatma Gandhi's oil portrait fetches THIS amount at Bonhams auction in London
A rare oil portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, believed to be the only one he sat for the artist to paint, has fetched triple its estimate at 152,800 pounds in a Bonhams auction in London. The painting, which had never before been offered at auction, had been on offer for an online auction with a guide price range between 50,000 and 70,000 pounds and was the top lot of the Travel and Exploration sale, which concluded on Tuesday. The portrait artist, Clare Leighton, was introduced to Gandhi when he visited London in 1931 to attend the Second Round Table Conference. "Thought to be the only oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi, which he sat for, this was a very special work, which had never before been offered at auction,' said Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams Head of Sale. "Completed in London by the artist Clare Leighton, mainly known for her wood engravings, this work was a testament to Gandhi's power to connect with people far and wide, and presented a lasting document of an important moment in history,' she said. The portrait remained in the artist's collection until her death in 1989, after which it was passed down through her family. 'It is no wonder that this work sparked such interest across the globe,' added Demery. At the time of painting it, Leighton was in a relationship with the political journalist Henry Noel Brailsford. A passionate supporter of Indian independence, Brailsford had travelled to the country in 1930, later publishing the book 'Rebel India' in support of the Indian independence cause, the year he first met Gandhi at the Round Table Conference. Bonhams said that it was through this connection that Leighton was introduced to Gandhi. She was one of the very few artists admitted to his office and was allowed to sit with him on multiple occasions to sketch and paint his likeness, the auction house revealed. In November of 1931, Leighton showcased her portrait of Gandhi in an exhibition at the Albany Galleries in London. Journalist Winifred Holtby attended the opening and wrote about the event in her column for the trade union magazine 'The Schoolmistress', stating; 'Members of Parliament and ex-Members, artists, journalists and art critics, stood among exquisite Indian women in bright saris, and the dignified figures of some of the chief Hindu representatives at the Conference. Mrs Naidu, the statesman-poet, was there... and Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas, one of the Mahatma's colleagues." Gandhi himself did not attend the party, but it was noted that he was vitally present in the works on display, which included the portrait of him in oil. Describing the painting in more detail, Holtby stated at the time: "The little man squats bare-headed, in his blanket, one finger raised, as it often is to emphasise a point, his lips parted for a word that is almost a smile. That is very much as I saw him when he came as guest to a big luncheon in Westminster at which I was present a little while ago. 'He was the political leader there, the subtle negotiator, the manipulator of Congress, the brilliant lawyer, the statesman who knows just how to play on the psychology of friends and enemies alike." The following month, Gandhi's personal secretary Mohadev Desai wrote a letter to Leighton, a copy of which is attached to the backing board of the portrait. It reads: "It was such a pleasure to have had you here for many mornings doing Mr Gandhi's portrait. I am sorry I didn't see the final result, but many of my friends who saw it in the Albany Gallery said to me that it was a good likeness. I am quite sure Mr Gandhi has no objection to its being reproduced." There does not appear to be any record of Leighton's oil portrait of Gandhi being exhibited again until 1978, when the Boston Public Library staged an exhibition of Leighton's work. However, according to the artist's family, the portrait was thought to have been on public display in 1974 when it was attacked with a knife by a person. A label attached to the backing board confirms that the painting was restored in 1974 by the Lyman Allyn Museum Conservation Laboratory.
News18
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Gandhi's Oil Painting Sells For Rs 1.7 Crore: The ‘Only One' For Which He Sat In Front Of Artist
Last Updated: "Thought to be only oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi, which he sat for, this was a special work, which had never been offered at auction,' said Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams Head of Sale A rare oil portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, believed to be the only one he sat for the artist to paint, has fetched triple its estimate at 152,800 pounds (Rs 1.7 crore) in a Bonhams auction in London. The painting, which had never before been offered at auction, had been on offer for an online auction with a guide price range between 50,000 and 70,000 pounds and was the top lot of the Travel and Exploration sale, which concluded on Tuesday. 'Thought to be the only oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi, which he sat for, this was a very special work, which had never before been offered at auction," said Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams Head of Sale. 'Completed in London by the artist Clare Leighton, mainly known for her wood engravings, this work was a testament to Gandhi's power to connect with people far and wide, and presented a lasting document of an important moment in history," Demery said. Artist Clare Leighton met Gandhi in 1931 The portrait artist, Clare Leighton, was introduced to Gandhi when he visited London in 1931 to attend the Second Round Table Conference. The portrait remained in the artist's collection until her death in 1989, after which it was passed down through her family. 'It is no wonder that this work sparked such interest across the globe," added Demery. At the time of painting it, Leighton was in a relationship with the political journalist Henry Noel Brailsford. A passionate supporter of Indian independence, Brailsford had travelled to the country in 1930, later publishing the book 'Rebel India' in support of the Indian independence cause, the year he first met Gandhi at the Round Table Conference. Bonhams said that it was through this connection that Leighton was introduced to Gandhi. She was one of the very few artists admitted to his office and was allowed to sit with him on multiple occasions to sketch and paint his likeness, the auction house revealed. When the portrait was showcased at an exhibition In November of 1931, Leighton showcased her portrait of Gandhi in an exhibition at the Albany Galleries in London. Journalist Winifred Holtby attended the opening and wrote about the event in her column for the trade union magazine 'The Schoolmistress', stating; 'Members of Parliament and ex-Members, artists, journalists and art critics, stood among exquisite Indian women in bright saris, and the dignified figures of some of the chief Hindu representatives at the Conference. Mrs Naidu, the statesman-poet, was there… and Sir Purshotamdas Thakurdas, one of the Mahatma's colleagues." Gandhi himself did not attend the party, but it was noted that he was vitally present in the works on display, which included the portrait of him in oil. Describing the painting in more detail, Holtby stated at the time: 'The little man squats bare-headed, in his blanket, one finger raised, as it often is to emphasise a point, his lips parted for a word that is almost a smile. That is very much as I saw him when he came as guest to a big luncheon in Westminster at which I was present a little while ago. 'He was the political leader there, the subtle negotiator, the manipulator of Congress, the brilliant lawyer, the statesman who knows just how to play on the psychology of friends and enemies alike." The following month, Gandhi's personal secretary Mohadev Desai wrote a letter to Leighton, a copy of which is attached to the backing board of the portrait. It reads: 'It was such a pleasure to have had you here for many mornings doing Mr Gandhi's portrait. I am sorry I didn't see the final result, but many of my friends who saw it in the Albany Gallery said to me that it was a good likeness. I am quite sure Mr Gandhi has no objection to its being reproduced." Who was Clare Leighton? According to Bonhams press release, Clare Leighton was an English American artist, writer and illustrator. Born in London, she was the daughter of Robert Leighton and Marie Connor Leighton, both authors. Clare lived her early life in the shadow of her older brother, Roland, her mother's favourite, who was killed in action in 1915, and immortalized in Vera Brittain's memoir, Testament of Youth. Her early efforts at painting were encouraged by her uncle Jack Leighton, an artist and illustrator, and in 1915, Leighton began formal studies at the Brighton College of Art, later training at the Slade School of Fine Art (1921–1923), and the Central School of Arts and Crafts, where she studied wood engraving under Noel Rooke. Leighton wrote and illustrated numerous books praising the virtues of the countryside and the people who worked the land. Her 1932 book on wood-engraving played an important part in popularizing the medium. Amongst her other achievements were her 1938 poster design for London Transport promoting weekend walks, her 1950s designs Wedgwood plates, and several stained-glass windows for churches in New England. Restored in 1974 There does not appear to be any record of Leighton's oil portrait of Gandhi being exhibited again until 1978, when the Boston Public Library staged an exhibition of Leighton's work. However, according to the artist's family, the portrait was thought to have been on public display in 1974 when it was attacked with a knife by a person. A label attached to the backing board confirms that the painting was restored in 1974 by the Lyman Allyn Museum Conservation Laboratory. With PTI Inputs tags : Mahatma Gandhi view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 16, 2025, 18:45 IST News india Gandhi's Oil Painting Sells For Rs 1.7 Crore: The 'Only One' For Which He Sat In Front Of Artist Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
