José María Fenollera was formed academically in his native city, studying in the reputed School of Fine Arts of San Carlos. Later, thanks to a scholarship granted by the Provincial Council of Valencia, he was able to travel to Rome, together with Pinzo and Sorrolla. After finishing his time in the Italian capital, he moved to Paris, where he studied photoengraving.

Back in Spain, he began working at the Royal Tapestry Factory, for whom he painted several cartoons. In 1887, he moved to Santiago de Compostela, where he had obtained a teaching position at the city's School of Fine Arts. His work was strongly linked to regionalism, although the area in which he achieved great popularity among critics was portrai...