Born in Porto, he studied there under João António Correia and Tadeu de Almeida Furtado, then continued his studies in Paris and Rome.

While in Paris he exhibited his work in the Salon and in the World's Fair of 1878.

In Paris, he studied with his friend João Marques de Oliveira, where they were pupils of Adolphe Yvon and Alexandre Cabanel.

Silva Porto become one of the most acclaimed naturalist painters of his generation, showing the heritage of Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and Charles-François Daubigny.

The Soares dos Reis National Museum houses his No Areinho, Douro ; Uma Marinha (Marine)  ; Conduçao do rebanho (Driving the herd) ; Costume de Capri ; The return of the market [pt] and Harvesters [pt].