The bust stood next to the large statue of de Pury, erected in 1855, on a central square in the city center of Neuchâtel. It had been erected in 2022 as part of the reappraisal of the city's colonial past.
De Pury (1709-1786) had bequeathed a huge fortune to the city of Neuchâtel in his will. The town used the money to construct various buildings. However, the merchant made his great fortune partly through slavery.
"As with any act of vandalism against its cultural heritage, the city intends to press charges", Neuchâtel communications officer Sophie Schneider told the Keystone-SDA news agency on Wednesday. She was confirming a report by the online portal arcinfo.ch.
"This act is all the more regrettable as this work is the result of a reappraisal of our city's colonial past and a process of social cohesion and reconciliation," added Schneider.
Installed in 2022, the bronze sculpture by Geneva artist Mathias Pfund on a concrete plinth showed de Pury upside down, with his head stuck in the plinth.
Main Image: Great in Concrete, Mathias Pfund