A rare oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi, believed to be the only one he ever sat for, is set to go under the hammer next month in an online auction hosted by Bonhams. The posed portrait of Gandhi, painted by British-American artist Clare Leighton in 1931, is expected to fetch between £50,000 and £70,000 (about $68,000 to $95,000).
The portrait holds historical significance not only for its subject but also for its origin, according to Bonhams and Leighton’s family. Gandhi sat for Leighton while visiting London that year for political talks with the British government on India’s future.
Leighton, known primarily for her wood engravings, was introduced to Gandhi through her partner, journalist Henry Noel Brailsford, a prominent figure in London’s left-leaning intellectual circles.
This is not just a “rare work by Clare Leighton, who is mainly known for her wood engravings,” said Rhyanon Demery, Head of Sale for Travel and Exploration at Bonhams. It is also believed to be the “only oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi which he sat for.”
The painting offers a detailed and intimate portrayal of Gandhi, capturing him at what many regard as the height of his influence during India’s independence movement. It “shows Gandhi at the height of his power,” said Caspar Leighton, the artist’s great-nephew. He described the piece as a likely hidden treasure.
‘Hidden treasure’: Rare #MahatmaGandhi portrait up for UK sale.
The 1931 painting by British-American artist Clare Leighton is believed to be the only oil portrait Gandhi sat for, according to the painter’s family and Bonhams, where it will be auctioned online from July 7 to 15. pic.twitter.com/pFyzxxEFa4
— Reporter Today News Channel (@reportertoday88) June 16, 2025
The portrait was first exhibited in London in November 1931. Soon after, Gandhi’s secretary, Mahadev Desai, sent Leighton a letter thanking her for her work. “It was such a pleasure to have had you here for many mornings doing Mr Gandhi’s portrait,” he wrote.
A copy of the letter remains attached to the back of the painting, along with a note that several viewers at the Albany Gallery praised the portrait for its strong likeness.
Decades later, the painting endured a more violent chapter. In the early 1970s, Leighton’s family says the artwork was attacked with a knife by someone they believe was a Hindu extremist linked to the right-wing group RSS.
Rare #MahatmaGandhi portrait up for sale in UK
via @IndianExpress https://t.co/WpBp9aoV29
‘Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi’
(1931, oil on canvas, 76.5X63.5cm)Clare Leighton pic.twitter.com/D1IVvBaA3M
— Ⓙⓐⓨⓓⓔⓔⓟ
Ⓖⓗⓞⓢⓗ (@ENjoydeepLY) June 16, 2025
The attack, which left a deep gash across Gandhi’s face, was never officially documented. However, a label confirms the portrait was restored in the United States in 1974.
Under ultraviolet light, Demery said the outline of the damage remains faintly visible. “It feels very deliberate,” she added.
Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist who accused him of betraying Hindus by supporting the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan.
The painting’s history, marked by both reverence and attack, now returns to public view, offering a glimpse into the life and legacy of one of the 20th century’s most influential leaders.
