Petronilla Paolini Massimi

Marchioness Petronilla Paolini Massimi (; 1663–1726), also known by the Arcadian pseudonym Fidalma Partenide, was an Italian poet and writer. Her difficult life is recorded in her autobiographical poems. She was an admired member of the Arcadian Academy, whose work is noted today for its strong defense of women and anticipation of gender studies.

Life

Early life Petronilla Paolini was born in Tagliacozzo, Abruzzo, on 24 December 1663, the daughter of Baron Francesco Paolini of Marsica and Silvia Argoli. Her father, Baron of Ortona dei Marsi and Gentleman of the Colonna, was considered to be a highly cultured and successful politician, her mother "thoughtful, introvert and lover of solitude."

Petronilla would later write about these events, as in her poem, "Unbind Your Angered Tresses," in which she bluntly mourned: "the strong hand of fate/Joined the fair April of my years/to alien old age."

Return to the Convent

After the death of one of her sons, Petronilla re-entered the Convent of the Holy Spirit, where she wrote the works for which she is known.

Legacy She died in Rome on 3 March 1726, and was buried in the Church of St. Egidio. Pietro Antonio Corsignani wrote a posthumous biography.

Works Her writings include:

Non disdire alla Donna gli esercizi letterari e cavallereschi (no date), Oratorio per la morte del Redentore (1697), La corona poetica rinterzata in lode di Clemente XI (1701), Canzoni epitalamiche (1704), Le Muse in gala (1704), I giuochi olimpici (1705), "Note sul Simposio di Platone", in Prose delgi Arcadi (Tome III).