His first known work is a panel depicting King João VI and Carlota Joaquina, executed in 1820 at the "Palácio das Laranjeiras" for Joaquim Pedro Quintela, 1st Count of Farrobo and his wife.

Two years later, he produced a large series of frescoes at the Palácio de Quintela;[2] mostly scenes from the Roman-Sabine wars, landscapes showing Rome and its environs and miscellaneous themes from Greek mythology.

In 1878, when he was in his 80s, he returned to do restorative work.In 1825, he painted curtains for the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, followed by a portrait of King Pedro IV.

Supported by the King and Count Quintela, he was able to go to Rome, where he made copies of the Old Masters[1] and completed his artistic training with Vincenzo Camuccini and Andrea Pozzi.

[2] He also spent time in London and Paris and, when he returned in 1836, he was appointed a Professor of history painting at the "Academia de Belas-Artes" (now part of the University of Lisbon).