LONDON.- Room 34 of the National Gallery was unveiled as the Blavatnik Family Foundation Room in recognition of its significant gift to NG200.

The generous gift marks the culmination of NG200, which has been the National Gallery’s year-long Bicentenary celebration of art, creativity and imagination, marking two centuries of bringing people and paintings together.

Led by Sir Leonard Blavatnik, founder and chairman of Access Industries, the Blavatnik Family Foundation promotes innovation, discovery and creativity to benefit the whole of society. Through the Foundation, the Blavatnik family has contributed over $1 billion globally to advance science, education, arts and culture, and social justice. They have provided essential funding to dozens of scientists in the early stages of their careers through the Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists, made major gifts to universities such as Harvard and Yale and funded The Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University. The Blavatnik Family Foundation has also supported more than 180 leading cultural organisations, including the National Portrait Gallery, Royal Academy, V&A, Courtauld, and the expansion of Tate Modern.

Room 34 of the National Gallery is a showcase of the best of British painting in the second half of the 18th century. It is home to such iconic works as the monumental horse painting Whistlejacket (about 1762) by George Stubbs (1727-1788), Mr and Mrs Andrews (about 1750) by Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) and William Hogarth’s (1697-1764) six painting series Marriage A-la Mode (about 1743).

Sir Leonard Blavatnik, said: 'I’m delighted to support the National Gallery’s Bicentenary and this magnificent room that celebrates Britain’s artistic heritage.'

Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, said: 'We are thrilled by the extraordinary and transformative philanthropy of the Blavatnik Family Foundation at this seminal moment in the National Gallery’s history and are delighted to recognise the generosity of the Blavatnik Family in one of our most beautiful and important rooms.'