Cecilio Pla began his training at the Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos in Valencia, to later continue at the Academy of San Fernando in Madrid, where he had Emilio Sala as his teacher. In 1880 he made a study trip to Rome, visiting Italy, France and Portugal. From there he began to send works to the National Exhibitions of Fine Arts, being awarded a third medal in 1884 for the Italian-themed work El Dante: círculo de los avaros, and a second medal in 1887 for the religious canvas entitled Entierro de Santa Leocadia.

In 1892 he was again awarded a second medal for the social realist painting Las doce (el almuerzo)" ("Twelve o'clock (lunch)"), and the same prize in 1895 for a scene of marital disagreement in a b...