Emília Adelaide dos Santos e Silva Braga was born in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon on 19 February 1867.

She was the daughter of Carlos José dos Santos e Silva, a military surgeon, and of Emília Adelaide Xavier.

She grew up in a liberal family environment where both she and her two sisters, Virgínia and Laura, were encouraged to paint and follow artistic careers.

Santos Braga and her sisters therefore took private lessons from José Moura Girão (1840—1916), one of her brother's friends and a celebrated painter.

However, Santos Braga did not find him to be satisfactory and, being invited by her parents to choose her own teacher, said that she wanted José Malhoa, whose paintings she admired.

[1][2][3] Santos Braga began teaching art in 1904, drawing her students, who were all women, from Lisbon's upper classes.

Two of her students, Mily Possoz and Maria Helena Vieira da Silva established international reputations.