He was born in Córdoba, where he probably initially studied under Pablo de Céspedes.
He became a lay brother of the Hieronymites at their monastery in Lupiana, in the region of Granada.
His nephew, Juan de Vera, also a painter, had commenced his novitiate in their monastery of La Sisla near Toledo, when he was there visited by his uncle Cristóbal.
At the end of the year Juan left the monastery without joining the Order; but Cristóbal remained to paint two altarpieces for the church, a St. Jerome and a St. Mary Magdalene.
Apparently his preference was to study and work at night, so he was rarely to be seen in daytime.