Giovanni Battista Somis and Giovanni Lorenzo Somis were brothers. Both came from a family of court musicians of the dukes of Savoy and received their first lessons together from their father, Francesco Lorenzo Somis (1663–1736).
After Giovanni Battista Somis died in 1763, Giovanni Lorenzo Somis took his place. Giovanni Lorenzo also painted a portrait of his brother Giovanni Battista Somis. Many compositions by Giovanni Lorenzo have been attributed to his brother because they were signed only with the family name.
