Latest news with #Leighton


Indian Express
4 days 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)


Mint
4 days 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.
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Business Standard
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Rare oil portrait of Mahatma Gandhi fetches over ₹1.67 cr at London auction
A rare oil painting of Mahatma Gandhi has been sold at a London auction for $204,648 (₹1.67 crore), reported BBC. Bonhams, the auction house, stated the artwork is believed to be the only oil portrait for which Gandhi ever sat. According to the report, the portrait sold for significantly more than Bonhams' original estimate of $65,000–$91,000 Who painted Mahatma Gandhi's portrait? British artist Clare Leighton painted the portrait during Gandhi's 1931 visit to London for the second Round Table Conference. Bonhams noted that Leighton was among the few artists granted access to Gandhi's office and permitted to sketch and paint him on multiple occasions. Following Leighton's death in 1989 in the US, the painting remained within her family. She was introduced to Gandhi through her partner, British journalist Henry Noel Brailsford, an advocate of Indian independence. Exhibited only twice since its creation Leighton first exhibited her Gandhi portraits at the Albany Galleries in London in November 1931. The oil portrait was not shown publicly again until 1978, when the Boston Public Library featured it in a retrospective exhibition of her works, alongside a charcoal sketch of Gandhi. However, according to the artist's family, the portrait is believed to have been exhibited in the US during the 1970s, where it was reportedly damaged in a knife attack.


Time of India
4 days 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
5 days 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.