British artist Clare Leighton's "Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi" during the online sales by the Travel and Exploration online sale.

"After 1931 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 the artist's work titled Clare Leighton: American Sheaves English Seed Corn," read a statement issued on the website of the auction house.

"We have found no documentation to corroborate this event, but the painting shows signs of restoration to what appears to be repaired tears in several places. A label attached to the backing board confirms that the painting was restored in 1974 by the Lyman Allyn Museum Conservation Laboratory, which adds some validity to the family's story," the statement said.

According to the website,  artist Clare Leighton was introduced to Mahatma Gandhi when he visited London to attend the Second Round Table Conference, which took place from 7 September to 1 December 1931.

Gandhi's involvement in the painting

Leighton was introduced to Gandhi and was one of the very few artists admitted to his office.

She was given the opportunity to sit with him on multiple occasions to sketch and paint his likeness.

This resulted in the present oil portrait of Gandhi, said to be the only painting for which he ever sat.

In November of 1931 Clare Leighton showcased her portraits of Gandhi in an exhibition at the Albany Galleries in Sackville Street, London.