Giulia Centurelli

Giulia Centurelli was born on 31 October 1832 in Ascoli Piceno.[1] She studied at the Institute of Fine Arts in the Piceno capital.[2] At a young age Centurelli joined the secret Mazzinian association Dante Apostolate, and developed a long correspondence with its founder Nicola Gaetani Tamburini.[3] In 1857 the papal police discovered the activity of the Dante Apostolate and arrested Tamburini and other members of the association.[3] Centurelli was also taken to prison, but due to very young age was soon released from prison and entrusted to sisters of the Civil Hospital of Ascoli Piceno.[4] A year later Centurelli was freed and on 19 September 1860 she wrote verses “Thanksgiving on the day of the rescue”.[1] In November 1860, Centurelli actively collected signatures for joining the Kingdom of Sardinia during the plebiscite.[5]

In 1861, Centurelli participated in an exhibition in Florence with a copy of the Annunciation, taken from the original by Guido Reni.[1] Centurelli taught drawing in the Scuola Normale in Ascole.[2] In 1870, she moved to Rome where she started working in the Female High School.[3]

Many of Centurelli’s drawings and miniatures have been dispersed, however such works as “Amorino”, “Holy Family” (a copy of Madonna della Cesta by Pieter Paul Rubens, 1615), “Self-portrait” and the “Portrait of Italo Selva” can be found in Pinacoteca di Ascoli.[1] Centurelli’s poetic works were published in newspapers such as “La Vita Nuova” in Rome and “il Giornale” in Ascoli.[2] She also translated the songs of the Magyar poet Sandor Petofi published in Rome in 1871.[3] On 22 January 1872, Centurelli was appointed an effective member of the International Artistic Association.[4]

Giulia Centurelli died of smallpox on 24 January 1872.[2]