Originally from the picturesque village of Anticoli Corrado, famed among artists both for its landscapes and the beauty of its young women, Pasquarosa Marcelli (Anticoli Corrado 1896 – Camaiore 1973) moved to Rome along with other women from her village that went to the capital city to be models in the art studios in Via Margutta and the Academy of Fine Arts. She became a model for the painter Felice Carena, the sculptor Nicola D’Antino, and posed for the artist Nino Bertoletti, whom she would later marry, moving to his studio-home in Villa Strohl-Fern at Villa Borghese.

Here she came into contact with a circle whose members included De Angelis, Melli, Oppo, Socrate, Spadini, and Trombadori. Stimulated by this vibrant artistic environment, she started to paint as well.

She made his debut in 1915 at the 3rd Exhibition of the Roman Secession, where she was well-received especially by art critics.

In the 1930s, she took part and had success at the Venice Biennale and the Rome Quadriennale, and continued to show in Italy and abroad, even after the war.