Eric Gustav Carlson

Eric Gustav Carlson of New York City died on December 14, 2016. Born to Gustav and Elizabeth Carlson in Cincinnati, OH, on November 8, 1940, Eric is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Terry Ogden, of Charlottesville, VA, and by his nephew, Alex Ogden, and his niece, Amy Ogden, and their families.

Eric graduated from Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati and was very attached to both the school and the city throughout his life. He received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from Yale in medieval art and architecture. His doctoral dissertation, “The Abbey Church of Saint-Étienne at Caen in the Eleventh and Early Twelfth Centuries,” is recognized as the authoritative study of this church. A professor of art history at SUNY-Purchase from 1978 until his retirement in 2006, he was a dedicated and beloved teacher. His students described him as well prepared, thorough, demanding, engaging, and caring.

While still in high school, Eric developed an abiding interest in archaeology and participated in excavations for the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History. This fascination continued during his years at Yale, when he was active in underwater excavations off the coast of Bodrum, Turkey, and on the island of Kea in Greece. His excavations in France--at Saint-Étienne, Psalmodi, and Forcalqueiret--resulted in a number of highly regarded scholarly publications.

In the 1970s Eric started a second career as an art dealer specializing in French and American prints and drawings of the 19th century. He was particularly interested in the works of such lesser known artists as Henry Monnier, Henri Guérard, and Jean Veber, and in the art that came out of World War I. Known for his sharp eye and vast knowledge, Eric was considered an expert in his field. He was a long-standing member of the International Fine Print Dealers Association, serving on its board and in many other capacities for much of the past quarter century.

Eric was a witty raconteur who delighted in puns. He was generous both to his friends and to a wide range of institutions, donating books and art to Yale, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Cloisters, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and Rutgers University among others. Of particular significance is his donation of more than 3,000 objects of World War I era art to the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas. He loved children, Cincinnati, France, and model trains, a lifelong hobby. He formed deep and enduring friendships and will be greatly missed by family and friends.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation to the staff at Sutton Park in New Rochelle, and especially to Norma Sampson, Julie Seaton and the Prime Care team, and care manager Ilene Himber for their devotion and their excellent care of Eric over the last two years.

If friends wish, donations in Eric's name can be made to the Eric Carlson ’58 Memorial Fund, Walnut Hills High School Alumni Foundation, 3250 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45207, or online at this URL http://www.walnuthillseagles.com/alumni/ways-to-give.aspx

Arrangements under the direction of Chas. Peter Nagel Inc., New York, NY.