Giuseppe Maria Borgnis was born in Craveggia, Val Vigezzo (Italy) in 1701. Even as a child, Borgnis was so fascinated by art that his father entrusted him to a local teacher. At the age of 12, he moved to Bologna, where he learned painting and the technique of fresco in the Baroque style.

Later he moved first to Venice, where he became acquainted with the techniques of Veronese and Tiepolo, and then to Rome.

After returning to his native Vigezzo valley, he became known for his fresco technique and received commissions both in the valley and in neighbouring areas (Ossola valleys) and abroad (France, Switzerland and England).

Borgnis died under unexplained circumstances while working in England.

The most popular subjects of his works were mainly religious, along with portraits and mythological motifs. His works can be found in the so-called cantini (pillars and niches in sacred buildings and patrician houses), on church vaults, such as in the San Bernardo church, in the living rooms of patrician houses and palaces, e.g. the Pedrazzini houses, and in chapels.

According to the account books of the parish of Campo, Borgnis produced his works here in the village between 1731 and 1748. The last date is confirmed by the inscription on the inner side of the parish church gate of San Bernardo: "Opere tutte fatte e rinnovate in questa chiesa dal pittore Giuseppe Borgnis di Craveggia in Vigezzo l'anno 1748" (All the works of this church painted and renovated by the painter Giuseppe Maria Borgnis di Craveggia in Vigezzo in 1748).