José Mongrell studied at the School of Fine Arts of San Carlos in Valencia, where he was a disciple of Ignacio Pinazo and Joaquín Sorolla. He gained artistic renown thanks to his participation in numerous competitions and exhibitions in Madrid and Barcelona. In 1897 he produced, with great success, the bullfighting poster for the Feria de San Jaime in Valencia, and in fact his poster for the Valencia July Fair of 1912 was reissued in 1971 on the occasion of the centenary of these festivities.

He obtained a teaching post at the San Jorge School of Fine Arts in Barcelona, where he lived for the rest of his life. Of particular note from this period is the work he did for the Palace of the Generalitat de Catalunya, in charge of the Diput...