Mahatma Gandhi’s rare portrait from his life is all set to be auctioned in London, UK.
According to BBC, the rare oil portrait of the Indian independence leader who led the non-violent resistance movement against British rule in the subcontinent will be auctioned in London in July 2025.
‘Only oil portrait that Gandhi actually sat for’
Over the years his numerous paintings, sketches and drawings were circulated all around the world, but the auction house Bonhams revealed that this is “thought to be the only oil portrait that Gandhi actually sat for."
The British artist Clare Leighton painted this portrait in 1931, around 17 years before his death when he went to London for the second Round Table conference.
Caspar Leighton, a great nephew of the artist, told BBC, “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.”
As per the auction house, Clare Leighton "was one of the very few artists admitted to his office and was given the opportunity to sit with him on multiple occasions to sketch and paint his likeness."
Leighton first showcased her portraits of Gandhi in November 1931, at an exhibition at the Albany Galleries in London. Although he did not attend the opening event, other representatives who were there for the conference visited the exhibition.
Later Gandhi's personal secretary Mahadev Desai wrote to Leighton, saying, "Many of my friends who saw it (the oil portrait) in the Albany Gallery said to me that it was a good likeness."
Notably, the will be auctioned in the second week of July at Bonhams.
