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Anselmo "Sam" Carini, 83, Wellspring Of Information About Art History, 83
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May 9, 2002, 3:19:58 PM5/9/02
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Anselmo "Sam" Carini, 83, a wellspring of information about art history
at the Art Institute of Chicago for more than 50 years, died of
complications related to cancer Thursday, May 2, 2002, in Northwestern
Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
Dubbed "the Homer of art history's oral tradition" by a museum curator,
Mr. Carini was largely self-taught in 15th through 20th Century
drawings, prints, pastels and other works of art on paper. He retired in
1998 as an associate curator in the museum's department of prints and
drawings at age 80.
Known nationally and internationally for his knowledge of art-related
topics, "Sam spent his professional life generously sharing his vast
knowledge with everyone," said associate curator Mark Pascale.
"Uncounted scholars, artists, collectors and students have benefited
from his munificence."
Born in Italy, Mr. Carini immigrated to Pennsylvania with his mother in
1924. He later studied classical languages, literature and culture at
the University of Pittsburgh.
He moved to Chicago and worked in a second-hand bookshop before
beginning work in the Art Institute's library in 1948.
In 1956, he was appointed editor of museum publications and in 1970
became an assistant curator in the department of prints and drawings. He
was promoted to associate curator three years later.
He delighted in instructing others about art and offering the public
unique encounters with the museum's collections, said curator Martha
Tedeschi.
"He was just as happy to share gems from the collection with a tourist
who had wandered in off the streets as he was working with the most
distinguished international scholars," said Tedeschi.
"Although we were horrified at the time, I can't help but smile when I
remember him taking medieval illuminated manuscript sheets out into the
corridor to share with elementary school groups who happened to be
passing by," she said.
Anselmo "Sam" Carini, 83, a wellspring of information about art history
at the Art Institute of Chicago for more than 50 years, died of
complications related to cancer Thursday, May 2, 2002, in Northwestern
Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
Dubbed "the Homer of art history's oral tradition" by a museum curator,
Mr. Carini was largely self-taught in 15th through 20th Century
drawings, prints, pastels and other works of art on paper. He retired in
1998 as an associate curator in the museum's department of prints and
drawings at age 80.
Known nationally and internationally for his knowledge of art-related
topics, "Sam spent his professional life generously sharing his vast
knowledge with everyone," said associate curator Mark Pascale.
"Uncounted scholars, artists, collectors and students have benefited
from his munificence."
Born in Italy, Mr. Carini immigrated to Pennsylvania with his mother in
1924. He later studied classical languages, literature and culture at
the University of Pittsburgh.
He moved to Chicago and worked in a second-hand bookshop before
beginning work in the Art Institute's library in 1948.
In 1956, he was appointed editor of museum publications and in 1970
became an assistant curator in the department of prints and drawings. He
was promoted to associate curator three years later.
He delighted in instructing others about art and offering the public
unique encounters with the museum's collections, said curator Martha
Tedeschi.
"He was just as happy to share gems from the collection with a tourist
who had wandered in off the streets as he was working with the most
distinguished international scholars," said Tedeschi.
"Although we were horrified at the time, I can't help but smile when I
remember him taking medieval illuminated manuscript sheets out into the
corridor to share with elementary school groups who happened to be
passing by," she said.
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