Perhaps since the first brick was laid, the name Alhambra has stood for excellence and luxury. Parts of this Granadan palace date to 889CE, but the intricate carved stone we see today is mostly the work of the 13th-century Nasrid emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar.
The Alhambra continued to be used as a royal palace, long after the defeat of the Moorish kings. In the 16th Century, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, commissioned an enormous extension to the palace, in the then-fashionable neoclassical style.
In 1838, Ferdinand II, King consort of Portugal, bought the decrepit ruins of Pena monastery, on the hill outside Sintra, and by 1854 had transformed it into this palace - a melange of medieval structures and romanticist ornament.
King Ferdinand and Queen Maria II paid close attention to the decoration of the palace, insisting that the amateur architect Wilhelm Ludwig von Eschwege include a dazzling array of features and styles inspired by Islamic architecture and Gothic castles.
Unusually, this palace was originally built as a city hall, during the 'Golden Age' of the 17th Century. It became a royal palace under King Louis Napoleon, after his older brother 'liberated' the Netherlands. It was once again given to the Dutch royal family, by law, in 1936.
The Great Hall is used by the monarch for entertaining guests on state visits, as well as official functions, and significant events. If you look to the floor, you'll see two maps of the Earth, symbols that point to the power and breadth of the Dutch Empire.
This fairytale renaissance château, found in the Loire Valley, is one of the most recognisable in all of France. It was commissioned by Francis I, partly to show off his wealth and style to his archrival, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.
This palace was one of the first to dispense with fortification, and to indulge in ornament and levity. One of the many architectural highlights is the spectacular double spiral-staircase, where two spirals ascend three floors without meeting.
Finally, the crowning glory. The palace of Versailles was the largest, most extravagant in all of Europe. The ludicrous expense of time, effort, and money, put into simply running the place day-to-day helped fuel the eventual French Revolution.
Since those bloody days, the palace has enjoyed a quieter life. The exquisite Hall of Mirrors is reserved for prestigious state events, but is perhaps best known as the spot where the 1919 Treaty of Versailles was signed, officially ending the First World War.
Online Exhibit
Bordeaux During the Age of Enlightenment
During the 18th century, Bordeaux changed dramatically. Port de la Lune was expanded and new streets were created to give it its new appearance, which earned it a place on the World Heritage List.
ReadOnce a famous piece of art has cemented itself in history, it can be hard to imagine that the work started as nothing but an idea. Artists often prepare sketches, models, or drafts before the ultimate work. Scroll to compare conceptual drawings with the final product.
Far from the ornately gilded finished piece, this pencil drawing of The Kiss shows the remarkable simplicity behind one of Klimt's most acclaimed works.
The finished painting, appearing courtesy of the Belvedere in Vienna, was created at the peak of Klimt's 'Golden Period' around 1908. Scroll back and forth to compare the early draft with this one!
This sketch, which appears in a letter to Paul Gauguin, is one of the earliest iterations of van Gogh's portrayal of his bedroom at The Yellow House in Arles, France. The artist produced multiple versions of the piece between 1888 and 1889.
This version, the third and final painting of his bedroom, is currently on display at the Musée d’Orsay, Paris. In addition to subtle differences in color, this version is somewhat smaller than the others, and features updated artwork on the walls.
In 2007, Korean artist Nam Kyung-min created this gargantuan oil painting inspired by The Bedroom. In a nod to van Gogh's decorations, she's recreated several of his other artworks around the room. See if you can identify them all!
Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen produced this series of sketches to prepare to sculpt the mythical lovers. All the poses tell the story of the intimacy, but only one became set in stone. See if you can guess which drawing turned into the completed piece!
The lovers are on display now in Thorvaldsens Museum in Denmark. Thorvaldsen completed the piece in the first decade of the 1800s. Contrast this lifelike masterpiece with the unembellished drawings which preceded it.
This illustration of Cupid and Psyche intertwined and facing forward went on to be the model for the ultimate sculpture. Is this the sketch you guessed?
For a change of pace, first look at this unrestrained sketch by Frank Gehry, then try to guess what the final product is. Hint: It is much larger in scale than the other works.
Did you guess that it became the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California? The venue was conceptualized in 1987, but wasn't open until 2003! Below, you can click to examine the building in 360º using Street View.
Kara Walker's 2014 installation A Subtlety was powerful, poingant, and remarkable in its scope. But even it began as a series of simple sketches.
The installation took place in a disused sugar factory in Brooklyn, New York. The enormous sphinx at the center was encircled by smaller but equally powerful pieces. Watch the video below to see the artist discuss the exhibit and learn how it was created.