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Time of India
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Portrait believed to be only one Gandhi sat for sells for Rs 1.7 crore at Bonhams
Portrait belived to be only one Gandhi sat for sells for Rs 1.7 crore (Picture credit: Bonhams) LONDON: A rare Gandhi portrait, believed to be the only oil painting Mahatma Gandhi ever sat for, sold in an online auction at Bonhams on Tuesday for £152,800 (Rs 1.7 crore.) 'Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi' by British artist Clare Leighton sold for triple its estimate of £50,000-£70,000 (Rs 57 lakh to Rs 80 lakh). It was the top lot in the Travel and Exploration online sale and the first time this portrait has been sold at auction. According to the artist's family, the portrait was on public display in 1974 when it was allegedly attacked with a knife by a Hindu right-wing activist. The catalogue entry refers to signs of restoration to tears in several places. Leighton met Gandhi when he visited London in 1931 to attend the Second Round Table Conference. At the time, Leighton was in a relationship with political journalist Henry Noel Brailsford, who was a passionate supporter of Indian Independence. It was through this connection that she was introduced to Gandhi and was one of the few artists admitted to Gandhi's office to sit with him to sketch and paint him. In November 1931, Leighton showcased her portraits in an exhibition at the Albany Galleries in London. Journalist Winifred Holtby attended the opening and wrote: '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… the statesman who knows just how to play on the psychology of friends and enemies alike.'
Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Gandhi portrait sells for £152,800
Believed to be the only oil portrait that Mahatma Gandhi sat for, British-American artist Clare Leighton's 1931 canvas featuring the national leader sold at an online Bonhams auction for £152,800, inclusive of premium. Part of Bonhams 'Travel and Exploration Sale,' the canvas was estimated to fetch £50,000-70,000. Leighton was arguably introduced to Gandhi through political journalist Henry Noel Brailsford in 1931, when he was in London to attend the Second Round Table Conference. A note by Bonhams states, 'She was given the opportunity to sit with him on multiple occasions to sketch and paint his likeness.' In a pre-sale release, Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams' Head of Sale, stated: 'Not only is this a rare work by Clare Leighton, who is mainly known for her wood engravings, it is also thought to be the only oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi which he sat for.' In the collection of the artist until her demise in 1989, the oil painting was later passed down through her family. The details note that the canvas was exhibited in November 1931 at the Albany Galleries in Sackville Street, London. Journalist Winifred Holtby, who attended the opening, wrote about the event in the trade union magazine The Schoolmistress. Though Gandhi reportedly did not attend the party, Holtby described Leighton's work in detail. The Bonhams website quotes him writing: '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.' Later, Gandhi's personal secretary, Mahadev Desai, also wrote a letter to Leighton, a copy of which is attached to the backing board. 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 it being reproduced.' Also exhibited at the Boston Public Library in 1978, the Bonhams note mentions that Leighton's family recalls the portrait being displayed in 1974, 'when it was attacked with a knife by an RSS activist'. It further states that though there is no documentation to corroborate this event, the painting does show signs of restoration at several places and has a label attached to the backing board that confirms that the painting was restored in 1974 by the Lyman Allyn Museum Conservation Laboratory.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Never stray into Godse's ideological camp, CM Stalin warns college students
TIRUCHY/TIRUVARUR: While exhorting students to follow the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, BR Ambedkar and Periyar, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday warned them to stay away from Nathuram Godse's supporters. 'Students should never follow the path of Godse but instead follow the one laid down by Ambedkar, Periyar and Gandhi,' Stalin said during the inaugural ceremony of the Global Jamalians Block at Jamal Mohamed College. Noting that the college was founded by Jamal Mohamed and Khaja Mian Rowther, who were 'ardent' followers of Gandhian principles, Stalin said, 'Jamal Mohamed participated in the Second Round Table Conference alongside Gandhi and even offered a blank cheque to support the freedom struggle.' Rowther, on the other hand, ran a khadi mill and distributed cloth for free, the CM added. Further, he emphasised that education is a student's 'most permanent' asset and urged them to grow with social consciousness. Pointing out that ministers KN Nehru and MRK Panneerselvam are among the college's alumni, Stalin said, 'Your seniors are in my cabinet. One day, someone among you may join the list too.' Asserting that he wasn't doing politics, Stalin said he wanted students to have political awareness. 'If Tamil Nadu stands united, no force can defeat us,' he said. Later in the night, Stalin took out a roadshow in Tiruvarur from Pavithramanickam to the railway overbridge in Tiruvarur town where he unveiled a statue of former chief minister M Karunanidhi installed by the side of the Tiruvarur-Thanjavur road. Stalin walked over five kilometres before reaching the overbridge. All along the way, he was greeted by people gathered on either side. He also interacted with them and obliged to a few selfies with women and youngsters. Many presented mementoes, books and shawls to the CM. After reaching the railway overbridge near Tiruvarur railway junction, Stalin unveiled Karunanidhi's statue.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin urges students to follow Gandhi, Ambedkar, Periyar, not Godse
TIRUCHY: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday urged students to follow the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, B.R. Ambedkar, and Periyar, and to reject the ideology of Nathuram Godse's supporters. 'Students should never follow the path of Godse, but instead follow the path of Ambedkar, Periyar, and Gandhi,' said CM Stalin during the inauguration of the Global Jamalians Block at Jamal Mohamed College, Tiruchy. College administrators welcomed Stalin before inaugurating the new building and addressing the gathering. In his speech, the Chief Minister praised the college's legacy of promoting unity and brotherhood. He noted that the institution was founded by Jamal Mohamed and Khaja Mian Rowther, both ardent followers of Gandhian principles. 'Jamal Mohamed participated in the Second Round Table Conference alongside Gandhi and even offered a blank cheque to support the freedom struggle,' Stalin said. He added that Rowther ran a khadi mill and distributed cloth free of cost.
India Today
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Rare Gandhi portrait, for which he agreed to sit, on sale in London
A rare portrait of Mahatma Gandhi — for which he agreed to pose while seated — is going up for auction in London in July. The painting, painted in 1931 by British artist Clare Leighton, is estimated to be sold for 50,000-70,000 pounds (Rs 58 lakh to Rs 81 lakh), according to a report in The Times of India. The auction house, Bonhams, said the painting is "thought to be the only oil portrait that Gandhi actually sat for," BBC to the artist's family, a Hindu right-wing activist tried to vandalise the portrait in 1974 when it was publicly rare oil painting is hitting the auction block for the first time, having stayed in Leighton's personal collection until her death in 1989, after which it was inherited by her family. The auction will happen between July 7 and 15 at Bonhams. "This is a painting of unique historic and cultural significance. It would be great if it could be seen and appreciated more widely, whether in India or elsewhere," Caspar Leighton, a great-nephew of the artist, told the OF REPAIR WORK ON THE PORTRAITThough the artist's family claims the portrait was attacked, there is no documented proof to confirm the same. However, the painting shows signs of damage, including what appear to be repaired tears in several have found no documentation to corroborate this (attack), but the painting shows signs of restoration to what appears to be repaired tears in several places. A label attached to the backing board confirms the painting was restored in 1974 by the Lyman Allyn Museum Conservation Laboratory," the catalogue entry states, according to the TOI report."There is nothing comparable to this painting in existence as it was painted in his lifetime and was a painting that he sat for on multiple occasions," TOI quoted Rhyanon Demery, head of sales auction house, as best known for her wood engravings, met Mahatma Gandhi during his 1931 visit to London for the Second Round Table Conference, a series of conferences organised by the British government to discuss constitutional reforms in the time, she was introduced to Gandhi by her friend Henry Noel Brailsford, a political journalist who supported India's independence became one of the very few artists admitted to Brailsford's office and was given the opportunity to sit with Gandhi to sketch and paint him in 1931, TOI SECRETARY MAHADEV DESAI WROTE LETTER OF APPRECIATIONIn November 1931, Leighton exhibited her portrait works at the Albany Galleries in 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."In 2017, a rare pencil portrait of Gandhi was auctioned for 32,500 pounds, about four times its estimated price, according to a report by news agency PTI."Gandhi usually refused to sit for formal photographs, let alone a portraitist, making this an extremely rare portrayal of the political leader at work," the auction house had said in a Watch
