The origins of the Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia stem from the founding of the Museum of the Caucasian Department of the Russian Royal Geographic Society on May 10, 1852. In 1865 on the initiative of Gustav Rade the museum of Caucasus was established on the basis of the above mentioned department. The first exhibition was held in 1867.
History of the Shalva Amiranashvili Museum of Fine Arts began in 1920 when a group of young artists founded the National Gallery of Art, which became its predecessor. The museum changed its name and building. And in 1950, finally moved to the building of a former seminary and received its present name. The museum was named after Shalva Amiarnashvili in 1990, who for 30 years held a great work to replenish the collection. Part of Georgian art exhibits have been returned from Europe, the other part was obtained from private collections.