Born in Valparaíso, Chile, Claudio Bravo moved to Madrid in 1961, where he established himself as a prominent portraitist for the Spanish aristocracy and cultural elite. His early training in Chile and subsequent immersion in the European tradition of classical realism informed his transition from portraiture to the highly detailed still-life compositions that defined his mature style.

Bravo's practice focused on the representation of everyday objects, such as glassware, fruit, and intricately folded paper or fabric, rendered with an almost photographic clarity. He frequently utilized oil on canvas to explore the interplay of light and volume, drawing inspiration from Spanish Baroque masters like Zurbarán and Velázquez.

Throughout his career, Bravo gained international recognition for his technical mastery, with his works held in major museum collections globally. His legacy remains centered on his contribution to the revival of hyperrealism in the late 20th century, maintaining a rigorous commitment to traditional representational techniques throughout his life.