His distant ancestor was a Guglielmo S. from the 16th century, followed by a line of artisans, up to Gaspare S., sculptor and stucco worker, father of Giacomo. Serpotta began working in stucco in the workshop of his brother Giuseppe; a trip to Rome is uncertain, although reflections and references to the Roman art of the time can be found in his work.
Most of his work is in Palermo; the six statues for the church of the Giusino, coming from the Orphanage of Charity, date to 1679. From these works sprang the
SERPOTTA, GIACOMO — Stucco decoration, with scenes from the Life of St. Lawrence and St. Francis, symbolic statues and putti, inside the Orphanage of St. Lawrence (1687–96) — Palermo.