He took private lessons from the respected Armenian painter Telemak Ekserciyan and entered the Academy of Fine Arts in 1884, graduating in 1888.

[2] Upon graduation, Agopian was awarded first place for a large painting entitled The Imperial Gallery at Eminonu which he executed for his finals.

He gave art lessons to the Ottoman princes and other amateurs, and one of his pupils was the painter Vahram Manavyan.

[2] Important works by Agopyan include The Beggar from Van, Porters Crossing the Bridge in Karaköy, A Muslim Beggar, Turkish Neighborhood, Portrait of Sultan Abdulhamit II, and the Selamlik of Sultan Abdülaziz in Ortaköy (which was sold at an auction of Islamic art held by Ader Picard Tajan in Paris on November 18, 1988), six scenes of the Victory won by Gazi Ahmed Muhtar Pasa, The Medresse of Sofulu Seyyif Mehmed Pasa Mosque in Kadirga, a portrait of educationalist Reteos Berberian, A Dervish Beggar in the Courtyard of Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in Üsküdar (1911), and a portrait of Mahrukizade Cafer Bey (1894; which is owned by his grandson Cem Mahruki).

Examples of the latter are those portraying two of the apostles, Timothy and Parthugiemeos (1888; which he did for the Surp Kevork Church in Samatya).