Francesc Fontbona i de Vallescar holds a doctorate in modern history from the University of Barcelona, where he served as an assistant professor (1971-1974). He was director of the graphic arts unit at the Biblioteca de Catalunya (National Library of Catalonia) (1995-2013), where he had previously been curator of prints, drawings, and maps (1978-1995). He was responsible for the art section of the Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana (1970-1977) and had been an editor since 1968. He directed the art history courses at the Catalan Summer University of Prada (2015-2017).

He was a member of the Boards for Qualification, Valuation, and Export of Historical Heritage Assets for both the Ministry of Culture (1990-2002) and the Government of Catalonia (1983-2014), serving as its president from 2002 to 2014. He has been a member of the Board of Museums of Catalonia and its Executive Committee (1991-2002), and president of the Selection Committee for the Barcelona Antiquarian Fair (2002-2007). He is a member of the board of trustees of the Amatller Institute of Hispanic Art in Barcelona (since 1996), of which he has been president since 2011.