Born in 1910 in Rome, she studied literature at La Sapienza University. In 1933 she won a competitive exam and became a Fine Art’s supervisor (together with the more famous Giulio Carlo Argan). In 1941 she became director of the National Modern Art Gallery of Rome. As a superintendent during WWII, she hid all the works of art from the Gallery firstly inside Palazzo Farnese di Caprarola, then at Castel Sant’Angelo, though the Social Republic wanted all the treasures to be sent in the North of Italy, but Bucarelli (and the other superintendents) knew that they would’ve given all to Germany so she disobeyed.
She’s not a legitimate Monuments Woman but she collaborated with the MFAA, as her more famous colleagues.