The Brera Gallery was officially established in 1809, even though a first heterogeneous collection with educational purpose had already existed since 1776 – being expanded in the following years – alongside the Accademy of Fine Arts, due to the will of Maria Theresa of Austria. An exemplary collection of pieces of art was set up to provide students with an opportunity to study up close the masterpieces. After Milan had become the capital of the Italian Kingdom, the painting collection became a gallery – as requested by Napoleon Bonaparte – conceived to host the most important works of art from all the areas conquered by the French armies. Unlike other great Italian museums such as the Uffizi, the Brera Gallery was not born as prince’s or nobleman’s private collection but is a product of a political decision. Indeed, since the early years of the 19th century, numerous paintings were acquired by confiscating them from churches and convents after the suppression of religious orders throughout Lombardy; other departments of the Italian Kingdom suffered the same fate, contributing to expand the collection. This explains why the collection mainly consists of religious artworks, many of them large altarpieces, lending the Brera Gallery a particular air, only partially lessened by further acquisitions.