The museum was founded in 1801 by Napoleon Bonaparte and opened in 1803 as the Museum of Fine Arts in Brussels (). Following the independence of Belgium, the museum, which belonged to the City of Brussels, was ceded to the Belgian state. In 1845, it was decided, by Royal Decree, that the museum was to receive works of art of deceased and living Belgian artists. A national commission was established to select important works of art. The first president of the commission was the Count de Beaufort. Other members were: