Son of Andrea Guarneri and Giuseppe's elder brother, Pietro was born in Cremona in 1655; he began to assist his father at a young age and his refined style begins to be noticeable in his works starting from around 1675.
Pietro was also a talented musician, and it was the prospects of being employed in this quality that brought him to Mantua in 1679, where after a few years he took up service as a violin and viola "virtuoso" in the orchestra of Duke Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga Nevers. Alongside his profession as a player, Pietro also continued to make instruments, which in the initial period are occasionally decorated, probably in relation to his court connections. The number of violins that have come down to us is small, but their quality is extremely refined. At first their style recalled the delicacy and technical precision of Nicolò Amati's work, with some echoes of Jacob Steiner's fame, for example in their full arching. From 1700 onwards the style of Pietro evolved towards more robust shapes for the corners, more substantial edges and above all in his heads, of remarkable mastery and characterized by a large central eye and a front view with a very proud second turn.
Thanks to his talents, Pietro led a relatively comfortable life and probably instrument making was always a secondary source of income for him alongside the profession of musician and the monopoly for the sale of strings that he held for the entire duchy of Mantua.
