From 1847 to 1848, Čermák studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague as a pupil of Christian Ruben. It was Čermák's desire to be a history painter; as he felt that the training in Prague would be insufficient, he traveled to Antwerp, where he studied with Gustave Wappers and Louis Gallait. In 1852 he settled in Paris; however, he travelled widely through Europe and often returned to his homeland. He frequently visited Montenegro, and in 1862 he fought alongside Herzegovinachieftains and their soldiers in Herzegovina uprising (1875–1877). For his courage in battle he was awarded a medal by Nicholas I of Montenegro, whose guest he frequently was. One of the streets in Podgorica was named after him. In 1874 he designed and built his own house in Paris.