Not on display

Caricature self portrait bust by Enrico Caruso

Sculpture
1909 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Caricature self portrait bust by Enrico Caruso (1873-1921), bronze, 1909.

Operatic tenor Enrico Caruso achieved international fame in the early 20th century, thanks to the gramophone. Though he appeared at opera houses throughout Europe and the Americas, making more than 800 performances in New York, it was his recordings that won him a mass audience. His version of the aria 'Vesti la giubba' ('On with the motley') from Leoncavello’s opera Pagliacci, made in 1902, was the first record to sell over a million copies.

Caruso was also known as a caricaturist. He regularly contributed sketches to an Italian-American newspaper La Follia di New York, from which a book of drawings was produced in 1908. He also produced sculptures. In this bronze self portrait bust, he represents himself as a ‘laughing Buddha’. Only eight of the busts were cast. This example, and a framed photograph of Caruso holding the clay model for his sculpture, were held in the collection of opera-lover Anthony Gasson and were both acquired by the V&A.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCaricature self portrait bust by Enrico Caruso (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Caricature self portrait bust by Enrico Caruso (1873-1921), bronze, 1909
Physical description
Caricature bust of a laughing round faced man, with closed eyes and wide open mouth. Artist's signature and date reproduced on the figure's left side.
Dimensions
  • Height: 15cm
  • Width: 10.5cm
  • Depth: 9.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Enrico Caruso / 1909' (Artist's signature and date, on figure's left side)
  • 'ROMAN BRONZE WORKS N.Y.' (Manufacturer's name, back, edge of base)
  • '(ONLY 8 CAST) / SELF PORTRAIT CARICATURE / OF ENRICO CARUSO. / BRONZE. SIGNED AND / DATED. 1909. / SEE: ACCOMPANYING PHOTO / OF CARUSO HOLDING ORIGINAL / CLAY CAST. / PUBLISHED: CARUSO HIS LIFE IN / PICTURES. ROBINSON. / PLATE # 135' (Inscribed on label, back)
Credit line
Acquired with the support of the Friends of the V&A
Summary
Caricature self portrait bust by Enrico Caruso (1873-1921), bronze, 1909.

Operatic tenor Enrico Caruso achieved international fame in the early 20th century, thanks to the gramophone. Though he appeared at opera houses throughout Europe and the Americas, making more than 800 performances in New York, it was his recordings that won him a mass audience. His version of the aria 'Vesti la giubba' ('On with the motley') from Leoncavello’s opera Pagliacci, made in 1902, was the first record to sell over a million copies.

Caruso was also known as a caricaturist. He regularly contributed sketches to an Italian-American newspaper La Follia di New York, from which a book of drawings was produced in 1908. He also produced sculptures. In this bronze self portrait bust, he represents himself as a ‘laughing Buddha’. Only eight of the busts were cast. This example, and a framed photograph of Caruso holding the clay model for his sculpture, were held in the collection of opera-lover Anthony Gasson and were both acquired by the V&A.

Associated object
S.105-2015 (Depiction)
Bibliographic reference
Collection
Accession number
S.104-2015

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Record createdFebruary 24, 2015
Record URL
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