Bernardino Montañés trained at the San Luis School of Fine Arts, under the artistic guidance of Tomás Llovet Pérez, who was a sculptor. An outstanding pupil, his mastery earned him several prizes awarded by the local Artistic and Literary Lyceum (1840-1844) and the academy itself.

In 1845 he moved to Madrid to study at the School of Painting, Sculpture and Engraving. It was during this period that he began to study under Federico Madrazo. Years later he moved to Rome where he joined a group of Spanish artists including Felipe Moratilla, Carlos Múgica, Francisco Lameyer and Ignacio Palmerola.

His stay in Italy lasted so long that he made numerous trips around the country, as well as to other areas such as Bavaria, Saxony, Pru...