Born to a family of limited means, he apprenticed in Craveggia, his birthplace, with a painter, from about 1710 to 1716.
He was then sent to Bologna, then Venice, where he was strongly influenced by the painters Giuseppe Maria Crespi and Giovanni Battista Piazzetta.
He was known for painting local sacred[clarification needed] subjects including Villette, Baceno, Vocogno, Trontano, Crana, Smeglio, (Mozzio) Coimo, Viganella, Montecrestese, Varzo, Trasquera, Bugliaga, Cattagna, Domodossola, Antrona Schieranco, Vocogno, Cimalmotto, Trontano, Simplon, Campo Valmaggia, Cevio Valmaggia, Prestinone, and Druogno.
His masterpieces include frescoes and canvases (1723–1727) done for the parish church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
In England, he painted ceilings and other interior decor[1] for the country house of Sir Francis Dashwood at West Wycombe Park, near London.