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The marriage of Archduke Maximilian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy (1457-1482) set the stage for one of the most illustrious ruling families in European history--the House of Habsburg. Maximilian I, as the first Holy Roman Emperor, also became the first Habsburg patron of the arts. As a patron of painters, he was likewise steeped in the cultural milieu provided by such masters as Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) and Albrecht Altdorfer (ca. 1480-1538), providing him with a deep understanding of the arts.

Archduke Ferdinand II of Austria inherited part of the Habsburg possessions from his father, Emperor Ferdinand I (1503-1564). After he moved into the renovated Castle Ambras, the Archduke turned his rich collection into a museum. His collection, expanding by leaps and bounds during this period, reflected his interest in the natural sciences, arts, and even curiosities. His enormous collection of more than a thousand miniature portraits and armor helped to define this period of famous leaders, aristocrats, heroes and poets. The learned Ferdinand II was an avid collector and planned his holdings systematically, making him one of the most important cultural figures in the history of Habsburg collecting.