Eagles and Prey
Eagles and Prey, by Christophe Fratin (1800-1864), is the oldest known sculpture in any New York City park. Cast in Paris in 1850, the statue was a gift given to the City by Gordon Webster Burnham (1803-1885). It was installed in Central Park in 1863. Burnham, a manufacturing giant, also commissioned the heroic-sized statue of Daniel Webster that stands on the West Drive at 72nd Street.
http://www.centralparknyc.org/visit/things-to-see/south-end/eagles-and-prey.html
and thanks for the information. the photo stands by itself, but what you wrote expands my knowledge of how and when this sculpture appeared.
interesting..it was given while the war between the states was on. one thinks about that time mainly in relationship to the civil war, but there were other things going on. another beautiful shot.