Some small works Júnior created on religious themes impressed the head priest enough to hold a fundraiser for him so he could go to Rio de Janeiro for formal art lessons.

[2] Later that year, Pedro II's royal decree awarded Júnior 300 francs per month for the purpose of studying in Paris.

He also held exclusive art exhibitions and fulfilled commissions for portraits of notable people ranging from coffee barons to Republican politicians.

He increasingly rejected Biblical and historical subjects in favor of regionalist themes, depicting the everyday life of the caipiras while moving from academic style[2] to Naturalism.

Júnior was stabbed to death in 1899 by his cousin José de Almeida Sampaio in Piracicaba in front of the Hotel Central.