Paintings by Goya are on display at the gallery

The six-month refurbishment at Laing Art Gallery, in Newcastle, is the biggest since it first opened in October 1904.

Four special exhibitions were also unveiled at the reopening on Saturday.

They feature works from the National Gallery and 27 paintings by world renowned artists like Rembrandt, Goya, Renoir, Warhol and Opie.

There is also a new Barbour Watercolour Gallery devoted to showing the Laing's internationally important British watercolours.

The paintings will be changed regularly to show the breadth of the collection which includes works by world famous artists such as Gainsborough, Turner, Carmichael and local artist Ralph Hedley.

Launch programme

Councillor Barney Rice, chair of Tyne and Wear joint museums committee, said: "We are delighted to be re-opening the Laing in its centenary year with superb new facilities and displays to add to what is already a hugely successful gallery.

The exhibition features world-renowned artists like Rembrandt

"The refurbishment has given us the opportunity to showcase more of the Laing's internationally important collections and we are grateful to all of the funders and supporters who have made this possible."

Other temporary exhibitions also make up the launch programme and these include a new commission by the Turner Prize nominated artist Mark Wallinger.

The refurbishment of the Laing began in October 2003.

The gallery was granted �430,000 for the refurbishments, including donations from the Northern Rock Foundation, the Barbour Trust, Newcastle City Council and the Friends of the Laing.