Rare 1931 painting, once slashed by alleged Hindu nationalist, estimated to fetch up to $95,000
London — A rare oil portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, believed to be the only one he ever sat for, is set to go under the hammer in London next month, with an estimated sale price between $67,000 and $95,000 (£50,000–£70,000). The painting, dating back to 1931, has a storied past — including an alleged attack by a Hindu nationalist in the 1970s — and is being hailed as a historical and artistic treasure.
A one-of-a-kind portrait of the Mahatma
Painted by British-American artist Clare Leighton, the portrait captures Gandhi at a pivotal moment in his life — the year he attended the Second Round Table Conference in London. According to her descendants, it is the only oil painting Gandhi ever sat for.
“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,” said Rhyanon Demery, Head of Sale for Travel and Exploration at Bonhams, which is conducting the auction online from July 7 to 15.
Caspar Leighton, the artist’s grandson, who inherited the painting, described it as a “likely hidden treasure.”
“There’s my family’s story, but the story in this portrait is so much greater,” Leighton said. “It’s a story for millions of people across the world. 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.”
A violent chapter in the painting’s history
The painting bears a literal scar from an attack believed to have taken place in the early 1970s. According to Leighton’s family, the artwork was slashed with a knife by a man described as a “Hindu extremist” allegedly linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist group.
Though the incident was never officially documented, restoration records from 1974 confirm that significant repairs were carried out in the United States. The scar remains a silent testament to the intensity of ideological conflicts surrounding Gandhi’s legacy.
A symbol of both history and hope
Painted at the height of Gandhi’s global influence, the portrait is not just a work of art, but also a historical relic. With Gandhi dressed in his characteristic homespun khadi and bearing his signature calm expression, the piece offers a rare, intimate glimpse into the man behind India’s independence movement.
Its upcoming auction is expected to draw interest from collectors, historians, and institutions alike. But for Caspar Leighton, its value transcends the auction house estimate.
“This painting has been hidden for too long,” he said. “Now is the time for it to be seen — and to find a place where it can speak to the world again.”
