Pietro Guarneri

Pietro Guarneri, known as 'Pietro di Venezia' to distinguish him from his uncle, was a luthier born in Cremona on 14 April 1695 and died in Venice on 7 April 1762. He belonged to the celebrated family of Cremonese makers and, as the son of Giuseppe Giovanni Battista Guarneri, trained in his father's workshop, although his work ultimately settled into the Venetian style.

Around the second decade of the eighteenth century, the family suffered numerous setbacks, and Pietro left the family home for good. He arrived in Venice in December 1717, where he found a very rich musical environment. At first, the rules of the guilds prevented him from working freely, but he soon found room for a craftsman trained in Cremona. His first original labels date from around 1730; what happened in the preceding years remains unknown.

His success came to rival that of Montagnana and Sanctus Seraphin in 1740, but after 1750 his output declined and his inspiration waned. His instruments are scarce and are valued as highly as those of his father and uncle. Notable features include the broad scroll with gouge marks and the sound holes of distinctly Venetian cut. His cellos are particularly accomplished, although very few survive; Beatrice Harrison played one of them.