Search the Collection

W. & D. Downey

(active 1855-1940), Photographers

Artist associated with 938 portraits
William Downey originally set up the company with his brother Daniel. They opened a portrait studio in South Shields in 1856 and in 1861-2 operated from 111 Northumberland Street, Newcastle, before moving to Eldon Square. In 1872 William moved to London to open a studio on Ebury Street, while his brother continued to look after the Newcastle branch. Among Queen Victoria's favourite photographers, the firm photographed at Balmoral and Frogmore throughout the late 1860s, particularly for the Prince of Wales. Their carte-de-visite portrait of the Princess of Wales with Princess Louise was one of the most popular ever issued, with sales of 300,000. William Downey's son, William Edward Downey, acted as operator for most royal sittings of the Edwardian era.

4 Likes voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation

List Thumbnail

Thomas Edward Taylor, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax8568

Thomas Edward Taylor

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax8568

Spencer Horatio Walpole, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax8627

Spencer Horatio Walpole

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax8627

Kate Josephine Bateman, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x241

Kate Josephine Bateman

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG x241

Edward Harold Browne, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x4734

Edward Harold Browne

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s-1870s
NPG x4734

Prince George William Frederick Charles, 2nd Duke of Cambridge, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x135623

Prince George William Frederick Charles, 2nd Duke of Cambridge

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG x135623

John Baldwin Buckstone, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax39932

John Baldwin Buckstone

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860s
NPG Ax39932

Henry Montagu Villiers, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x139849

Henry Montagu Villiers

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1860
NPG x139849

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x6424

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1880s (December 1862)
NPG x6424

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x45950

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, December 1862
NPG x45950

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x131297

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, December 1862
NPG x131297

Dante Gabriel Rossetti, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax38169

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, mid-late 1870s? (December 1862)
NPG Ax38169

Henry Edward Manning, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax29654

Henry Edward Manning

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, mid 1860s
NPG Ax29654

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax29680

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG Ax29680

John Ruskin, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax14797

John Ruskin

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 29 June 1863
NPG Ax14797

Richard Cobden, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax17735

Richard Cobden

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1863
NPG Ax17735

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax18366

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG Ax18366

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax18368

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG Ax18368

Sir Austen Henry Layard, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax18240

Sir Austen Henry Layard

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG Ax18240

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax18252

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG Ax18252

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax11938

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG Ax11938

William Bell Scott; Dante Gabriel Rossetti; John Ruskin, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x12959

William Bell Scott; Dante Gabriel Rossetti; John Ruskin

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 29 June 1863
On display in Room 22 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x12959

John Ruskin, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x12958

John Ruskin

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 29 June 1863
NPG x12958

William Bell Scott; John Ruskin; Dante Gabriel Rossetti, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x128797

William Bell Scott; John Ruskin; Dante Gabriel Rossetti

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 29 June 1863
NPG x128797

John Bright, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x4311

John Bright

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, mid 1860s
NPG x4311

Sir Austen Henry Layard, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x17118

Sir Austen Henry Layard

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG x17118

John Cumming, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax7493

John Cumming

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG Ax7493

William Ewart Gladstone, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x5957

William Ewart Gladstone

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1863
NPG x5957

William Ewart Gladstone, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x5955

William Ewart Gladstone

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1863
NPG x5955

William Bell Scott; Dante Gabriel Rossetti; John Ruskin, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax38133

William Bell Scott; Dante Gabriel Rossetti; John Ruskin

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 29 June 1863
NPG Ax38133

Sir Frederick Peel, Bt, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax8682

Sir Frederick Peel, Bt

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG Ax8682

Lord Clarence Edward Paget, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x12640

Lord Clarence Edward Paget

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG x12640

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x11976

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG x11976

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax46206

Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG Ax46206

Richard Cobden, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax7342

Richard Cobden

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, circa 1863
NPG Ax7342

Sir George Grey, 2nd Bt, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax39794

Sir George Grey, 2nd Bt

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1863
NPG Ax39794

Richard Cobden, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax46268

Richard Cobden

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1863
NPG Ax46268

Sir George Grey, 2nd Bt, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax8564

Sir George Grey, 2nd Bt

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1863
NPG Ax8564

Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x46619

Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG x46619

Richard Cobden, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x6187

Richard Cobden

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1863
NPG x6187

John Bright, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax46269

John Bright

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, mid 1860s
NPG Ax46269

Category

Groups

Places

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.