A one-of-a-kind oil portrait of India’s iconic independence leader, Mahatma Gandhi, has made waves at a recent auction in London, where it was sold for an impressive £152,800 ($204,648). This sale price far exceeded the auction house Bonhams' initial estimate of between £50,000 and £70,000. Created in 1931 during Gandhi's visit to the UK for the second Round Table conference discussing constitutional reforms for India, this portrait is believed to be the only oil image Gandhi posed for.
Bonhams noted that British artist Clare Leighton was among the rare few admitted into Gandhi’s personal office, granting her multiple opportunities to capture his likeness in her work. Following Leighton’s passing in 1989, the painting stayed within her family until its recent sale. While the details of the buyer remain undisclosed, there is uncertainty regarding whether the painting will be publicly displayed in the future. Gandhi, revered as the "father of the nation" in India, led a non-violent resistance movement against British colonial rule, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire countless individuals globally.
