A painting of Mahatma Gandhi, believed to be the only oil portrait he ever sat for, sold for $205,000 at Bonhams on Tuesday.
The painting originally had a pre-sale estimate of $67,063 (£50,000) to $93,888 (£70,000).
Painted by artist Clare Leighton, the portrait was originally showcased in 1931 in an exhibition at the Albany Galleries in London. It’s believed Leighton was one of only a few artists to have the opportunity to visit Gandhi’s office to sketch or paint his likeness.
Attached to the backing board is a letter from Gandhi’s personal secretary, Mohadev Desai.
"It was such a pleasure to have had you here for many mornings doing Mr Gandhi's portrait,” Desai wrote. “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."
According to Bonhams, Leighton’s family believes the portrait was once on display in 1974 and attacked with a knife by an R.S.S activist. The backing board is labeled with confirmation the portrait was restored in 1974.
“With the portrait having 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,” Rhyanon Demery, Bonhams head of sales, said in a statement.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture. He was previously the Collectibles Editor at Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on X and Instagram @benmburrows.