Sir Lionel Henry Cust (1859-1929), Art historian; Former Director of the National Portrait Gallery

Sitter in 3 portraits
As Director of the National Portrait Gallery (1895-1909), he oversaw its establishment on the present site. He held the Directorship jointly with that of Surveyor of the King's Pictures (1901-27). The most prolific contributor to the Dictionary of National Biography (1900), Cust wrote more than three hundred entries. He was co-editor of the Burlington with Roger Fry from 1909 to 1919, and as major contributor on early British art, particularly portraiture, was a foil to Fry in many ways including in the matter of dress. But his tastes were broad, and he was on the executive committee of Fry's Manet and the Post-Impressionists exhibition in 1910, and was for many years chairman of the Art for Schools Association.