M. Angelo Mariani, Proprietor of the Mariani Coca-Wine

Art Historical Context

This striking silver medal, created in 1895 by French artist Louis-Oscar Roty, offers a dignified profile portrait of Angelo Mariani, the enterprising proprietor of Mariani Coca-Wine. Measuring just over an inch in diameter, the piece exemplifies the intimate scale of medals and plaquettes, objects designed to be held, collected, and cherished as personal tributes. The crisp, struck technique captures fine details of Mariani’s features, reflecting the precision and artistry that made such works popular commemorative items in late nineteenth-century Europe. Roty’s design places the subject in a classic profile view, a format long favored for its timeless elegance and ability to convey status. As a gift from Dr. Mariani himself to the Metropolitan Museum just a year after its creation, the medal also speaks to the cultural exchange between patrons and artists during this period. Today, it serves as a fascinating window into both personal legacy and the refined craft of French medal-making.

About the Artist

Louis-Oscar Roty · 1846–1911

Louis-Oscar Roty, commonly known as Oscar Roty (1846–1911), was born on June 11 in Paris's Belleville neighborhood, the son of a modest schoolmaster. He began his artistic training under Horace Lecoq de Boisbaudran at the Petite École (later the École des Arts Décoratifs), honing his drawing skills, before entering the École des Beaux-Arts in 1864. There, he studied sculpture and medal engraving u...