Lionel Cust

Sir Lionel Henry Cust (25 January 1859 – 12 October 1929) was a British art historian, courtier and museum director. He was director of the National Portrait Gallery from 1895 to 1909 and co-edited The Burlington Magazine from 1909 to 1919. He was the father of Lionel George Archer Cust.

Early life and family

Cust was born in London in January 1859, the son of Sir Reginald Cust (1828–1912), a lawyer, and his wife Lady Elizabeth Bligh, daughter of the 5th Earl of Darnley. He was educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge.

In 1895, Cust married Sybil Lyttelton, daughter of George Lyttelton, 4th Baron Lyttelton and Sybella Clive. Her father's family were prominent politicians. and Surveyor of Pictures in Ordinary to His Majesty, and kept both positions until 1927. He was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in August 1901, promoted to a Commander (CVO) of the order in 1914, and knighted as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO) in 1927.

Selected publications

with Sidney Colvin:

'Queen Elizabeth's Kirtle', The Burlington Magazine, 33:189 (December 1918), pp. 196–201, on the Bacton Altar Cloth