The National Gallery in Prague (cz. Národní galerie v Praze) is the Czech National Gallery in Prague. It is housed in different locations within the city, the largest being the Veletržní Palác. Its history dates back to the 18th century (exactly February 5 1796), when a group of prominent representatives of Bohemia patriotic aristocracy and Enlightened middle-class intellectuals decided to elevate what they called "debased artistic taste" of the local population. It houses the National Gallery's collection of modern art. The institution, which received the title Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts established the Academy of Fine Arts and the Picture Gallery. In 1918 the Picture Gallery became a central collection of newly formed Czechoslovakia.