Nothing is known about his early education, but he must have displayed some talent because, upon arriving in Brazil in 1874 with his father (who was also a sailor), he immediately sought to enroll in the Academia Imperial de Belas Artes.
Tidak ada yang mengetahui tentang pendidikan awalnya, namun ia harus menyimpan beberapa bakat karena, setelah datang ke Brasil pada 1874 dengan ayahnya (yang juga seorang pelaut), ia masuk ke Academia Imperial de Belas Artes.