A century after Antoine Lavoisier's death, a statue was erected in his honor in Paris, but it was soon discovered that the likeness did not resemble him at all. The sculptor, when questioned, revealed that he had used the head of the Marquis de Condorcet instead, hoping no one would notice the mistake. Surprisingly, the public seemed indifferent to the inaccuracy, and the statue remained in place for many years without protest.

Ultimately, the statue, which inaccurately represented Lavoisier, was only removed during World War II when it was taken down and melted for scrap metal. This reflects the lack of attention people gave to historical accuracy in public monuments and highlights an intriguing aspect of how figures from the past are remembered.