In 1867, at the age of just twelve, Malhôa joined the National Society of Fine Arts, where he was a disciple of Miguel Angelo Lupi, Tomaz da Anunciação and Victor Bastos. In 1881, he became a founding member of the Grupo do Leão, thus joining the naturalist movement that had emerged around Silva Porto, although his caricatured genre paintings, luminous landscapes and even his excellent portraits that made him popular had more realistic contours. From 1901 onwards, his vast work was exhibited in the Salons of the National Society of Fine Arts, of which he was elected president in 1918. He was awarded a medal of honour in 1903, followed by the award of the Columbano Prize and the Grand Cross of Santiago. In 1928, his bust was erected...