Giandomenico Facchina was born in 1826 in Sequals, today in the province of Pordenone in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, at that time part of the Lombard-Venetian Kingdom.

He first worked on the restoration of ancient mosaics, including the St Mark's Basilica in Venice.

This technique was used very successful at the Exposition Universelle (1855) in Paris and spread rapidly.

At Paris, he decorated, among others, the new opera house built by Charles Garnier.

Until his death in 1903 Giandomenico Facchina divided his time between his studios in Venice and Paris.