After his return to Sibiu as the Governor of the Great Principality of Transylvania (1777-1787), the Baron Samuel von Brukenthal brought along his collections, and Hochmeister’s Calendar for the year 1790 mentions among the attractions of the city the painting collections including 800 paintings divided in 13 halls of the Brukenthal Palace. Over time the collections enriched both through acquisitions and donations. At the present, exhibits from the National Art Gallery can be found at the first and second floor of the Brukenthal Palace, which became a genuine Museum of Art.
