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Hindustan Times
16-07-2025
- 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.
India Today
16-07-2025
- 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
16-07-2025
- 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
16-07-2025
- 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.
The Hindu
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
New rules will synchronise use of IST for legal, commercial activities, says Pralhad Joshi
The Union Consumer Affairs Ministry said here on Wednesday (June 18, 2025) that the proposed Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules will mandate synchronisation of all legal, administrative and commercial operations with IST, making India's timekeeping infrastructure legally enforceable, digitally secure and globally bench-marked. Briefing reporters after a 'Round Table Conference on Time Dissemination', Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said it is strategically significant to synchronise all legal, commercial and administrative activities with the IST so that the use of alternative time references, unless explicitly authorised, could be prohibited. He said precise and uniform dissemination of IST across sectors such as financial markets, power grids, telecommunications, transportation and others are essential to ensure fairness, accuracy and national security. 'The initiative aims to deliver IST with millisecond to microsecond accuracy through five Regional Reference Standard Laboratories (RRSLs) equipped with atomic clocks and secure synchronisation protocols like NTP (Network Time Protocol) and PTP (Precision Time Protocol), ushering in a new era of digital and administrative efficiency under the vision of 'One Nation, One Time',' Mr. Joshi said. Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Ministry, said there was an urgent need for accurate, secure and legally mandated dissemination of IST to ensure uniformity across strategic and non-strategic sectors. She said under the Time Dissemination Project, the Ministry in collaboration with the Council Of Scientific And Industrial Research – National Physical Laboratory (CSIR–NPL) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is establishing advanced infrastructure comprising five RRSLs in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Faridabad, and Guwahati. She said the current reliance on foreign time sources poses risks such as cybersecurity vulnerabilities like spoofing and jamming. She added that the implementation of the new rules would be a crucial step toward ensuring traceability, enhancing operational reliability, and fostering national time sovereignty. 'The initiative, is a major step in building a trusted and standardised digital ecosystem across the country,' she added.
