Berthon emigrated to England and resided there for fourteen years. During this time, he was a French-language and drawing tutor to Sir Robert Peel's daughters. He continued to develop his artistic skills, and as he did so, he became increasingly influenced by the romantic style of Franz Winterhalter. By 1835, his work had been exhibited at the renowned Royal Academy.

He came to Canada in 1841 and opened a studio in the Toronto Society of Arts with Paul Kane, Cornelius Kreighoff, and J.G. Howard. A large number of his portraits may be seen at Osgoode Hall, the most famous of which being the portrait of Chief Justice Sir John Beverly Robinson.

Berthon died in 1891 in Toronto. At the time of his death, he was the oldest member of the Ontario Society of Artists. Since his death, Berthon's work has continued to be shown, with one of the most important exhibitions in 1934 at the Art Gallery of Toronto.

Portrait of Lady Robinson with Her Daughter Mary (1847)

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