Alberto José Pani was born in 1878 in Aguascalientes (Mexico). He trained as a civil engineer and worked as a politician. He held prominent positions within the Mexican government, serving as Secretary of Finance from 1923 to 1927 and again from 1932 to 1933. His work led him to travel frequently to Europe, where he took the opportunity to purchase artworks and build his own collection. In this way, he acquired numerous pieces in Paris in 1919 and in London in 1927.