The museum was created by private initiative in 1841, with funds provided by the artist Marc-Louis Arlaud, who became its first curator. Private funds still help the acquisition process with gifts and legacies. In 2014, the museum conserved around 10,000 artworks. A part of them retrace a general history of art, beginning with ancient Egypt, but the largest part focuses on art from the end of the eighteenth century to Post-Impressionism. The reputation of the museum is due to five great collections: those of Abraham-Louis-Rodolphe Ducros (1748–1810), Charles Gleyre (1806–1874), Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen (1859–1923), Félix Vallotton (1865–1925) and Louis Soutter (1871–1942).
In October 2019, the museum relocated to the new ''Plateforme 10'' facility.[1] This expanded facility allows the museum to further dedicate rooms for its permanent collection.
