Prior to joining the Academy of Fine Arts at San Francisco Convent as a volunteer student in 1841, he left an engraving dated 1840.

In that year, the following received an award: Miguel Ângelo Lupi, Angelino da Cruz Castro e Silva, António José Lopes Júnior and Ernesto Gerard.

At its conference in August 1849, the Academy of Fine Arts awarded José Rodrigues with a gold medal for his painting "Aparição do Anjo S. Gabriel ao profeta Daniel".

[1] At an exhibition, promoted by the Portuguese Industrial Association, José Rodrigues received the Silver Medal with honours.

In the contract, José Rodrigues committed to create two real-life and full-body paintings, of Alexandre Herculano (1810–1877) and Manuel Fernandes Tomás (1771–1822).

The contract was signed by the presiding Chairman of the Council, José Gregório da Rosa Araujo and by the artist.