[1] He came from a family of painters, which included his father Antonín, his uncle and Director of the Prague Art Academy Václav, his brother Quido and his sister Amalie.

From 1835 to 1844, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Prague, under Professors František Tkadlík and Christian Ruben.

He found refuge in the patronage of Count Bedřich Silva-Tarouca ,[1] living and working at his castle in Čechy pod Kosířem for twenty years.

He even did paintings of the twelve months (Calendar plate) in face of the Prague Astronomical Clock.

One of the central bridges over the Vltava River bears his name and includes a statue of the painter at the Old Town end.