Built in 1776 at the behest of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, the Brera Art Gallery is a national gallery of ancient and modern art with an exhibition route that ranges from prehistory to contemporary art. It features masterpieces by artists such as Mantegna (Cristo morto), Raffaello (Sposalizio della Vergine), and Caravaggio (Cena in Emmaus). This characteristic stems from the museum’s original design during the Napoleonic era when it was conceived as a representative place for all Italian art from every era and region.