Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller Bust in the Central Park

The bust of Johann Christoph von Schiller is one of 29 statues located in Central Park, New York. Most of them have been donated by individuals or organizations.

The portrait bust of German dramatist, poet and philosopher Johann Christoph von Schiller (1759–1805) was donated to the Park by German community in New York who wished to honour their national heroes (there is also a statue of Beethoven in the Park). It was created by sculptor C. L. Richter in 1859 and placed in the Park the same year in November. It was the first statue that was placed in Central Park.

The bust is based on an earlier marble bust created by German artist Heinrich Dannecker. At first the bronze bust stood on quite fragile brownstone pedestal in the wooden Ramble (Schiller was Romantic nature poet) but later it was removed to the north end of the Mall and the pedestal was exchanged for more durable one made of saguenan red granite.