{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1308763"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1308763/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HW2964/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HW2964/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HW2964","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HW2967","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HW2970","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1308763/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1308763","accessionNumber":"S.104-2015","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[{"title":"Caricature self portrait bust by Enrico Caruso","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Caricature self portrait bust by Enrico Caruso (1873-1921), bronze, 1909.\r\n\r\nOperatic 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 <i>Pagliacci</i>, made in 1902, was the first record to sell over a million copies. \n\r\nCaruso was also known as a caricaturist. He regularly contributed sketches to an Italian-American newspaper <i>La Follia di New York</i>, 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&amp;A.\r\n\r\n","physicalDescription":"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.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Caruso, Enrico","id":"AUTH326901"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Roman Bronze Works","id":"AUTH334359"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Bronze","categories":[{"text":"Entertainment & Leisure","id":"THES48959"},{"text":"Portraits","id":"THES48906"},{"text":"Opera","id":"THES263971"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&P","id":"THES48602"},"images":["2015HW2964","2015HW2967","2015HW2970"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"008","id":"THES355460"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"sculpture","id":"AAT47090"}],[{"text":"busts","id":"AAT47457"}],[{"text":"caricatures","id":"AAT15634"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"New York (City)","id":"x29030"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1909","earliest":"1909-01-01","latest":"1909-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"S.105-2015","id":"O1308865"},"association":"Depiction"}],"creditLine":"Acquired with the support of the Friends of the V&A","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"15","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"10.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"9.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Enrico Caruso / 1909'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Artist's signature and date, on figure's left side"},{"content":"'ROMAN BRONZE WORKS N.Y.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Manufacturer's name, back, edge of base"},{"content":"'(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'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Inscribed on label, back"}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Caricature self portrait bust by Enrico Caruso (1873-1921), bronze, 1909","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":""}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["S.104-2015"],"accessionNumberNum":"104","accessionNumberPrefix":"S","accessionYear":2015,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-10-05","recordCreationDate":"2015-02-24","availableToBook":true}}