Pietro Bouvier was born by Benedetto, a Genevan artisan, gilder and carver, who settled in Milan. The first of seven brothers, he grew up in his father's workshop and then attended courses at the Accademia di Brera. His works are found in all the Lombard great collections of the nineteenth century art, including in Milan the Galleria civica d'arte moderna and the Museo del Risorgimento, the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo and elsewhere.