Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art $7.5 million expansion opens

The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, which houses a $350 million collection of masterpieces by some of history's greatest artists, debuted in its new quarters Wednesday.

Long lines of art lovers and just plain curious tourists queued up outside the new and expanded $7.5 million facility just opposite the Las Vegas Strip resort's pool entrance and near its convention area an hour before the noon opening.

The display area for the masterpieces by artists such as Rembrandt, van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Picasso, Rubens and others has more than doubled in size, to 2,600 square feet, and more art-related retail space has been included in an adjacent area.

The expansion allows for more vivid displays of the artwork, which is now highlighted by dramatic illumination that sets each painting off against a dark background framed by elegant wood furnishings and lush carpeting that absorbs distracting sounds and light.

The move will also allow more people to view the art. The original gallery was able to accommodate up to 750,000 people annually, while the new facility can handle more than 1 million with ease.

Steve Wynn, chairman of Bellagio parent Mirage Resorts Inc., said the move was made less than a year after the opening of the $1.6 billion Italian-themed resort because "the gallery's popularity has exceeded our expectations."

The collection totals more than 55 pieces, many on display in fine-dining restaurants such as Picasso at Bellagio and Renoir at the Mirage. Others, including specially commissioned Rauschenbergs, hang in public areas at Bellagio.

But the gallery itself features the cream of the collection, including a Rembrandt dating from 1633 and a Rubens from 1609.

Admission is $6 for Nevada residents, $12 for non-residents.

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