Once 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.

Museums have a history of both wonder and controversy. But where did it all begin? Scroll on, and use click-and-drag, to see and virtually explore some of the world's oldest buildings dedicated to the collection and exhibition of art and artefacts. 

The Capitoline Museum, or Musei Capitolini, is very probably the world’s oldest museum. Located in Rome, just a stone’s throw from the Colosseum, the museum houses a fantastic collection of classical art and archaeology. The history of the  museum dates right back to 1471 when Pope Sixtus IV donated a number of important ancient bronzes to the people of Rome.

The collection was placed on Capitoline Hill, close to the location of the current museum. In 1734, The museum was officially opened to the public, making it the first place in the world specifically designed as a location for common people to enjoy art.  

Located just a short walk from the Capitoline Museum, The Vatican is the second-oldest museum in the world. The museum can trace its roots back to 1506 when Pope Julius II purchased the iconic sculpture Laocoön and His Sons and placed it on public display.    

As well as the inaugural sculpture (which is still on display in the museum) visitors can enjoy a number of other priceless artworks including The School of Athens, by Raphael, The Last Judgement, by Michelangelo and Caravaggio’s Entombment of Christ. Around 25,000 people visit the museum every day, making it one of the most popular galleries in the world.

The Royal Armouries has been admitting visitors to view its extraordinary collection since 1592. In 1660, the attraction opened to the general public, allowing locals to see exhibitions specifically designed to showcase the power and splendor of the English monarchy. 

Today, the museum’s collection focuses on arms and amour, with around 70,000 pieces on display. These artefacts date from antiquity to the present day, giving visitors a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of warfare and weapons engineering. 

In 1661, the University of Basel and the City of Basel clubbed together to buy the Amerbach Cabinet, a fantastic collection of artworks, many by famous German painter Hans Holbein. In 1671, the collection was made open to the public and, in 1823, it was joined with the previously private works held in the Faesch Museum.

The collection in the Kunstmuseum covers an incredible breadth of history, with works dating from the 15th century to the present day. This impressive span gives visitors a unique insight into the development of art and artistic movements and makes for a fascinating day out.

Our next museum can be found in one of the world’s oldest and most renowned places of learning, Oxford, England. The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford’s museum of art and archaeology. Founded in 1683, its collection stretches from pre-history to the present day.

Free to visit, the Ashmolean is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in the history of art and archaeology. If you can't travel to Oxford in person, the museum has recently made over 200,000 object records available to browse or search in their online collection.