Elías Salaverría came from humble origins, but became the protégé of the Marquis of Cubas. He studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in San Sebastián. In 1897, he received a scholarship from the Provincial Government of Gipuzkoa to study at the School of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid, where his teachers Alejandro Ferrant and Luis Menéndez Pidal provided essential guidance for his career. He obtained the third medals in the national exhibitions of 1906 and 1908. In 1908 he travelled to Paris and in 1912 he submitted La procesión del Corpus en Lezo [The Corpus Christi Procession in Lezo] to the National Exhibition, where it won the First Medal. It also won the Gold Medal at the International Exhibition in Munich in 1913. In 1915, an exhibition of his work was held at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Sebastián, consisting of large portraits and other compositions. He also won the Gold Medal at the Universal Exposition in Panama. The Provincial Government of Gipuzkoa commissioned him to paint a picture of St. Ignatius, which he submitted to the National Exhibition in 1917, where its scenography and realism sparked controversy. He also painted historical themes such as La ofrenda de Elcano [Elcano's Offering] (1922) to commemorate the four-hundredth anniversary of the first voyage of circumnavigation. In 1925, he exhibited his Proclamación de la Virgen de Aránzazu [Proclamation of the Virgin of Aránzazu] at the Museum of Modern Art in Madrid. He also painted some important portraits. In 1944 he was inducted to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando to replace Moreno Carbonero. In 1952, while painting at the church of San Francisco el Grande in Madrid, he fell from scaffolding and died.
Elías Salaverría came from humble origins, but became the protégé of the Marquis of Cubas. He studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in San Sebastián. In 1897, he received a scholarship from the Provincial Government of Gipuzkoa to study at the School of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid, where his teachers Alejandro Ferrant and Luis Menéndez Pidal provided essential guidance for his career. He obtained the third medals in the national exhibitions of 1906 and 1908. In 1908 he travelled to Paris and in 1912 he submitted La procesión del Corpus en Lezo [The Corpus Christi Procession in Lezo] to the National Exhibition, where it won the First Medal. It also won the Gold Medal at the International Exhibition in Munich in 1913. In 1915, an exhibition of his work was held at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Sebastián, consisting of large portraits and other compositions. He also won the Gold Medal at the Universal Exposition in Panama. The Provincial Government of Gipuzkoa commissioned him to paint a picture of St. Ignatius, which he submitted to the National Exhibition in 1917, where its scenography and realism sparked controversy. He also painted historical themes such as La ofrenda de Elcano [Elcano's Offering] (1922) to commemorate the four-hundredth anniversary of the first voyage of circumnavigation. In 1925, he exhibited his Proclamación de la Virgen de Aránzazu [Proclamation of the Virgin of Aránzazu] at the Museum of Modern Art in Madrid. He also painted some important portraits. In 1944 he was inducted to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando to replace Moreno Carbonero. In 1952, while painting at the church of San Francisco el Grande in Madrid, he fell from scaffolding and died.