A life-sized portrait and an album of music offer a glimpse into the life of opera singer Carola Mori—and an invitation to discover more—at USF Libraries Special Collections.
In the latest installment of our Special Collections=Special Connections video series, Caitie, a Special Collections staff member, shares a special connection to this haunting portrait. Caitie first encountered Mori’s portrait while pursuing a master’s degree in art history at USF; as a student assistant, Caitie helped inventory the Tampa library’s fine arts collections. The painting stood out for its hand-carved frame and its depiction of Mori as a Spanish noblewoman, looking directly at the viewer with elegance and confidence.
Born in Switzerland, Mori was an internationally known mezzo-soprano who performed throughout Europe, South America, New York and Tampa from the 1930s through the 1950s. She later retired to Clearwater, where she lived until her death in November 1992.
Much of Mori’s story remains unknown. For Caitie, hearing the recording after spending time researching the portrait brought a new dimension to the collection: a voice and a life behind the painting.
“I’d love for someone to come into Special Collections and uncover more of Carola Mori’s story,” Caitie says.
Find out more about the Carola Mori collection at the USF Libraries.