What is the oldest statue in New York?
As you walk through the streets and parks of New York, you'll come across many statues. But what if you visited the oldest statue in New York?
New York’s oldest statue is in Central Park
- If someone asks you what the oldest statue in New York is, you might guess the Statue of Liberty? Close, but not quite! 🙂 The Statue of Liberty wasn’t dedicated until 1886.
- The correct answer is “Eagles and Prey,” installed in 1863 in Central Park. You’ll find it in the southern section of Central Park, near the elegant Mall and Bethesda Fountain, around 69th Street. As the name suggests, the statue depicts two majestic eagles devouring an unfortunate sheep.
A French statue in New York!
- “Eagles and Prey” actually shares something with the Statue of Liberty: both statues are French! 🙂 “Eagles and Prey” was created in France in 1850 by Christophe Fratin, a sculptor from Metz who specialized in animal scenes. The statue then crossed the Atlantic by ship. It was a gift to New York from Gordon Webster Burnham, a copper industrialist.
- Here’s another amusing detail: like many artworks at the time of their unveiling, “Eagles and Prey” sparked controversy after it was installed in Central Park. Some people felt the violent scene didn’t belong in a place meant for peaceful reflection. But the park’s curators stood firm, and the statue remains there today.
Fratin’s statues in France
- One more thing: if you’re in Paris, you can find another sculpture by Christophe Fratin in square Ferdinand-Brunot, near place Denfert-Rochereau in the 14th arrondissement. This one shows a wild horse attacked by a tiger.
- In Metz, his hometown, you can also see Fratin’s Horse in front of the courthouse, and “Eagles Attacking a Stag” in the botanical garden. More beautiful connections between France and New York!
