In 1672, he became a sculptor for the king Charles II and later left Madrid in 1680 and returned to Granada.

[citation needed] He died in Granada in 1724 and was buried in the Convent of St. Anthony of the Discalced Franciscan Friars.

His work can be usefully studied in the eight statues in the Chapel of Cardinal Salazar in the Mosque-Cathedral in Córdoba, and in the statues of Saint Bruno and Saint Joseph in the Charterhouse near Granada.

The origins of this great sculpture were unknown until the year 2018, when Dr. José Antonio Díaz (Art historian from the University of Granada), discovered and published the documents which reveal all the information about this relevant sculpture of the Spanish Baroque.

Furthermore, the sculpture of Our Lady of Sorrows made for the Oratory of St. Philip Neri of Granada (currently, in the Church of St. Anne) is known as the second best work carved by José de Mora.