Painters exhibited in the museum include Beato Angelico, Fra Angelico, Canaletto, Ludovico Carracci (The Funeral of the Virgin Mary), Agostino Carracci (Madonna and Child with Saints), Correggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Sebastiano del Piombo, Guercino (Susannah and the Elders), Parmigianino (Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine), Tintoretto, and others.

In 1734, Charles III of Spain had most of the Farnese Collection moved to Naples.

Later, the remaining collection was increased with the addition of Greco-Roman findings, donations, and with the restitution of some of the works that had been taken to Naples, as well as, through new acquisitions under Duke Ferdinand (1758).

During the French occupation of Parma (1803–1814), the works were moved to Paris, returning in 1816.

Duchess Marie Louise reordered the collections in the Palazzo della Pilotta and built the hall that now bears her name.