Protest sculpture of controversial Swiss philanthropist stolen

A small protest sculpture of the controversial banker and benefactor David de Pury in Neuchâtel has been stolen. The intentionally inverted statue stood next to the large statue of de Pury, erected in 1855, in a central square in the city centre. It was erected in 2022 as part of the reappraisal of the city's colonial past. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox 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. Last weekend, several buildings and monuments in the city had already been defaced with spray paint. On the outside walls of the collegiate ...