Complete Caruso, Enrico. (1873-1921) Signed Self-portrait Caricature Set [A0tlWwhy]

Original self-portrait caricature of the great tenor, on an album page boldly signed and inscribed "Enrico Caruso / London 1907" and dating from his triumphant return to Covent Garden. 13.5 x 19 cm. Uniform overall toning, otherwise fine. From the historic Stuart-Liff Collection.


In November of 1906, Caruso had been charged with an indecent act allegedly committed in the monkey house of New York's Central Park Zoo, where he was accused of pinching the bottom of a married woman. Caruso claimed a monkey did the bottom-pinching, but he was found guilty as charged, however, and fined 10 dollars. "If he had any fears concerning his reception in Europe following the Monkey House Case, they immediately proved to be groundless, for on his first appearance, at Covent Garden on the night of 15 May 1907, he was given a tremendous ovation. The British press had been outraged by the tenor's treatment at the hands of American justice, and the opera-going public clearly shared this indignation, greeting the tenor even more warmly than usual." (Howard S. Greenfeld, "Caruso: An Illustrated Life," p. 84)