José San Bartolomé Llaneces trained in a photographers studio, in the Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, and honed his skills studying the Spanish Old Master paintings in the Museo del Prado, Madrid.

In 1886 he moved to Paris, where his Spanish genre paintings were well received. Having widened his European appeal, he returned to his native Spain at the turn of the century. Here, he would chronicle members of high society with a series of portraits. He would execute numerous portraits of Queen María Cristina and other members of the court.