Thistle in a Dream (To Louis Sullivan), 1955-56

"…the conflict in Sullivan was again symbolized by a flower like the thistle. I think this was really no accident, he was attracted to something Setoch in his ancestry, or even the motive closely related to Ireland by geographical proximity; it really has nothing to do with the real quality of conflicts that occurred in the man, and reaching out for symbols, he found that this could express it as well as anything else." [Theodore Roszak Interview with Elliott, February 13, 1956, p.28]

cut and welded steel 41 3/8 x 40 1/2 x 30 inches  (105.2 x 102.9 x 76.3 cm) Collection:  Smithsonian American Art Museum , Washington D.C. Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation (1986).

cut and welded steel

41 3/8 x 40 1/2 x 30 inches  (105.2 x 102.9 x 76.3 cm)

Collection: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C. Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation (1986).

Study for Thistle in the Dream, 1955

Study for Thistle in the Dream, 1955

black and brown Ink and wash on paper on cream heavy textured cold pressed wove

21.75 15 inches

Collection: David Owsley Museum of Art, Ball State University, Muncie, IN (2006).

Study for Thistle in a Dream, 1954

Study for Thistle in a Dream, 1954

Pen and brown ink on paper

11 × 8 1/2 inches (27.9 × 21.6 cm)

Collection: Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Gift of Mrs. Theodore Roszak (1979).

Spring, 1948

Spring, 1948

Ink with wash on paper
10-7/8 x 15-1/8 inches

Collection: Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State University, PA. Purchased with funds from the Terra Art Enrichment Fund (2005).