Dates

• Existence: 1496 - 1575

biographical statement

Giulia Sfondrati (1496-1575) was a nun in Milan.

Giulia Sfondrati was born in 1496 in Cremona to Giovanni Battista Sfrondati and Margherita Homodeo. She married young, first to a Gonzaga and then in 1515 to Cleto Picenardi of Mantua. Together they had one child, who died prior to her being widowed a second time in 1530. Giulia inherited her husband's estate, donating much of it to the Church. After the death of her brother Francesco's wife in 1535 she moved to Milan to help care for his children. Living in a convent in San Paolo, she reared his four daughters and managed the financial affairs of his sons Niccolò and Paolo.

Giulia began wearing the widow's habit in 1555, and made her religious profession in 1562 taking the name of Angelica Paola. She was active in the governance and administration of the convent throughout her time at San Paolo. Giulia died in Milan in 1575.

Citation:

Sfondrati family papers, 1478-1593 (Julia; Giulia de Sfondrati)

Suore Angeliche de San Paolo website, via WWW, May 14, 2013 (Angelica Paola Sfondrati; Giulia Sfondrati Picenardi; Giulia Sfondrati; b. 1496 in Cremona; d. 1575 in Milan; sister of cardinal Francesco Sfondrati; m. 1515 to Cleto Picenardi of Mantua, one child; widowed in 1530 after death of son; donated inherited lands to the Church, moved to Milan; began wearing the widow's habit in 1555, made her profession in 1562 with the name of Paola)

A convent tale, 2002: p. 47 (Giulia Sfondrati; widowed for second time in 1534; living in Mantua in 1537, but moved to convent in 1539; reared four children of her brother, Francesco Sfondrati, and managed financial affairs from 1539 to 1555; accepted guardianship of Paolo and Niccolò) p. 52 (forced to move out of convent in 1554; first document referring to her as religiosa professa, Jan. 17, 1556) p. 114 (Giulia; b. 1496; parents, Giambattista Sfondrati and Margherita Omodei Trivulzio; m. Gonzaga; m. Cleto Picenardi; d. 1575; took orders under name Ang. Paola, 1562) p. 119 (lived at San Paolo as a laywoman from founding to 1556, then as nun until death in 1562; active in administration of convent)

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