The basis of the collection of the fourth largest in the world went to the art gallery works of art collected by members of the Habsburg dynasty. The museum exposition is located in a building in the Maria Theresa Square, designed by Karl Hassenauera and Gottfried Semper. The museum was opened in 1891.

Here you can find the ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman rarities; European sculpture and works of decorative art XV-XVIII centuries; Venetian and Flemish painting of the XVI century; paintings of early Dutch and German painters, as well as a magnificent collection of ancient coins.