1179 - Boy on Dolphin by David Wynne

Welcome to one of the most beloved sculptures on the Mayo Clinic campus, Boy with a Dolphin. As you walk around, let your eyes follow the dance of bronze: a boy, seemingly weightless, riding atop a leaping dolphin.

This 13-foot bronze work was created by British sculptor David Wynne, a self-taught artist who studied zoology at Cambridge and served in the Royal Navy. Soon after the war, without formal art training, Wynne turned to sculpture—his deep fascination with animals and the human form merging in lyrical, expressive works.

The boy you see here was modeled on Wynne’s youngest son, Roland (sometimes called “Roly”).
The dolphin is a mature bottlenose, or common dolphin, and Wynne intended this pairing to reflect a moment of trust and delight. In his own words: “If one meets a dolphin in the sea, he is the genial host, you the honored guest.”

First installed here in 1984, the sculpture was a gift from Count and Countess Theo and Ida Rossi de Montelera of Geneva, Switzerland. Its presence has become a quiet anchor on campus—people gather, pause, children play, visitors reflect.

But like anything in life, Boy with a Dolphin has had its challenges. The cold Minnesota winters and cycles of freezing and thawing took their toll—early on, a hairline crack appeared in the boy’s wrist. Over time the crack worsened, and in 2015, the sculpture underwent a delicate conservation procedure: an X-ray to assess internal structure, a 15-hour surgery, or welding repair, and a restoration of the bronze patina using metal rods from the original British foundry. Special “weep holes” were added to prevent water accumulation that might stress the form further.

Pause now and let your imagination float: Picture salt spray on your face, the sea’s gentle lift, the dolphin arching in pure motion. Let the sunlight warm the bronze, or imagine it dusted in snow, still radiating with hope and possibility. Wynne wanted this sculpture to evoke joy and well-being—a reminder that art, nature, and the human spirit can unite in a single instant.

As you move on to your next point along the Med-City Talking Trail, carry with you the unexpected gift of this moment: the boy who trusts, the dolphin who guides, and the bold leap into a world where we are both guests and participants.