But the smaller of the two museums - The Hermitage is still open for business and if you're an art lover it really is someplace you should check out.

Before I continue allow me to admit that I suffer from a severe case of AD or "Art-Deficiency." This is a little known condition that renders the sufferer incapable of gaining pleasure from viewing fine art and provokes comments like "My four-year-old could paint something better than that!"

Although I can appreciate the importance of works from artists like Picasso, to me the concept of spending more than a moment or two looking at a painting hanging on a wall is bizarre. I mean, after all it's not like it does anything - it just sits there looking kind of pretty.

There are no showgirls presenting it. It doesn't disappear to be replaced by a white tiger. And most importantly, if I put two quarters on it and pull the frame, not only does it not spit out coins while playing "We're In The Money," but I would probably get arrested for doing so.

I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the concept of a fine-art museum in Las Vegas, I'm just not sure that the heart of The Strip, with all of its attendant noise and fury is the best place to present a quiet work of art.

The Hermitage museum occupies over 7,500 square-feet just off the main lobby of the Venetian. According to the press material, the designers went out of the way to make it stand out and look different. The problem is that the long square box not only detracts from the stately exterior but it practically ruins the Grand Colonnade that stretches from the lobby to the casino. Instead of delicately arched windows allowing natural light to stream into the space, there is now this big brown wall that is much too sleek and modern for the finely detailed Italian Renaissance décor that surrounds it.

Although to be fair, I suppose a slot machine isn't exactly period detail either, but I digress.

Once inside, the simple gallery does its job by fading into the background to allow the art to stand out. They have rotating exhibits including, at times, masterworks from folks like Monet, Picasso, Kandinsky, Matisse, and others, many of which are on loan from the main Hermitage museum in Russia. The fact that this is the first time some of these paintings are being viewed outside of that country is impressive, but again if you're looking for white tigers and showgirls, go across the street to The Mirage.

Justifying the cost is quite difficult. It will cost you $17.50 (discounts available for seniors and students) to get in and that's a hefty chunk of change for what you get. As a point of reference, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City charges a $12 admission and that facility is roughly 100 times the size of this one.

I think there are better ways to spend $17.50 bucks in Las Vegas but if you do not suffer from "Art Deficiency" you may disagree.