A rare oil painting of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi, believed to have been damaged by a Hindu nationalist activist, is slated for auction in London this July.
Gandhi, recognized as one of the most influential figures in India’s history, spearheaded a non-violent movement against British colonial rule, inspiring similar resistance campaigns globally. He remains the subject of countless artworks, books, and films.
However, a 1931 painting by British-American artist Clare Leighton is thought to be the only oil portrait for which he formally posed, according to the painter’s family and Bonhams, the auction house where it will be auctioned online from July 7 to 15. “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,” stated Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams Head of Sale for Travel and Exploration. The painting is a “likely hidden treasure,” Caspar Leighton, the artist’s great-nephew, told AFP.
Caspar Leighton, great-nephew of British-American artist Clare Leighton, poses with a painting by his great-aunt of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi at Bonhams auction house in London on June 9, 2025. — AFP
Going under the hammer for the first time next month, the painting is estimated to sell for between £50,000 and £70,000 ($68,000 and $95,000).
Clare Leighton met Gandhi in 1931, when he was in London for crucial talks with the British government concerning India’s political future. She was part of London’s left-wing artistic circles and was introduced to Gandhi by her partner, journalist Henry Noel Brailsford. “I think there was clearly a bit of artistic intellectual courtship that went on,” said Caspar, highlighting that his great-aunt and Gandhi shared a “sense of social justice.”
The Attack on the Painting
The portrait, painted at a pivotal moment for India’s independence struggle, “shows Gandhi at the height of his power,” Caspar added. It was exhibited in London in November 1931, following which Gandhi’s personal secretary, Mahadev Desai, wrote to Clare: “It was such a pleasure to have had you here for many mornings doing Mr Gandhi’s portrait.” A copy of the letter, affixed to the painting’s backing board, reads: “Many of my friends who saw it in the Albany Gallery said to me that it was a good likeness.”
The painting intimately captures Gandhi’s likeness but also bears stark reminders of his violent death.
Caspar Leighton, great-nephew of British-American artist Clare Leighton, poses with a painting by his great-aunt of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi at Bonhams auction house in London on June 9, 2025. — AFP
Gandhi was tragically shot at point-blank range in 1948 by disgruntled Hindu nationalist activist Nathuram Godse, who was once closely associated with the right-wing paramilitary organization RSS. Godse and other Hindu nationalist figures accused Gandhi of betraying Hindus by agreeing to the partition of India and the creation of Muslim-majority Pakistan.
According to Leighton’s family, the painting itself was attacked with a knife by a “Hindu extremist,” believed to be an RSS activist, in the early 1970s. Although no formal documentation of the attack exists, a label on the back of the painting confirms that it underwent restoration in the United States in 1974. Under UV light, Demery pointed out the faint shadow of a deep gash running across Gandhi’s face where the now-restored painting was damaged. “It feels very deliberate,” she observed.
A ‘Real Home’ for History
The repairs, according to Caspar, “add to the value of the picture in a sense… to its place in history, that Gandhi was again attacked figuratively many decades after his death.” The only other recorded public display of the painting was in 1978 at a Boston Public Library exhibition showcasing Clare Leighton’s work.
After Clare’s passing, the artwork was passed down to Caspar’s father and subsequently to him. “There’s my family’s story but the story in this portrait is so much greater,” he reflected.
Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams Head of Sale for Travel and Exploration, points out the spot where the now-restored painting by British-American artist Clare Leighton of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi was once damaged at Bonhams auction house in London on June 9, 2025. — AFP
“It’s a story for millions of people across the world,” he added. “I think it’d be great if it got seen by more people. Maybe it should go back to India — maybe that’s its real home.”
Unlike countless contemporary depictions of the man known in India as the “father of the nation”—found in stamps, busts, paraphernalia, and recreated artwork—”this is actually from the time,” Caspar emphasized. “This might be really the last truly significant picture of Gandhi to emerge from that time.”
