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W. & D. Downey

(active 1855-1940), Photographers

Artist associated with 936 portraits
William Downey set up the company with his brother Daniel. They opened their first studio in 1863 on Eldon Square, Newcastle. 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.

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Arthur Hughes, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P30

Arthur Hughes

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, circa 1858-1864
NPG P30

Group of fifteen, including Queen Victoria, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P22(2)

Group of fifteen, including Queen Victoria

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 25 May 1868
NPG P22(2)

The Gillies Ball, 1868, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P22(3)

The Gillies Ball, 1868

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 25 May 1868
NPG P22(3)

Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany; Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Duchess of Argyll, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P22(7)

Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany; Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Duchess of Argyll

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1868
NPG P22(7)

Group of eleven, including the Duchess of Atholl, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P22(24)

Group of eleven, including the Duchess of Atholl

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1868
NPG P22(24)

Princess Beatrice of Battenberg, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P22(8)

Princess Beatrice of Battenberg

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1868
NPG P22(8)

John Brown; Queen Victoria, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P22(4)

John Brown; Queen Victoria

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1868
NPG P22(4)

John Brown, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P22(9)

John Brown

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1868
NPG P22(9)

King Edward VII, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P22(5)

King Edward VII

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1868
NPG P22(5)

Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Duchess of Argyll, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P22(6)

Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Duchess of Argyll

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1868
NPG P22(6)

John Grant, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P22(25)

John Grant

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1868
NPG P22(25)

Thomas Henry Huxley, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P429

Thomas Henry Huxley

by W. & D. Downey
carbon print, 1890 or before
NPG P429

King George V; Queen Mary, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P1700(2a)

King George V; Queen Mary

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 6 July 1893
NPG P1700(2a)

Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P1700(24b)

Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1893
NPG P1700(24b)

Alexandra, Empress of Russia (née Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine); Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P1700(24c)

Alexandra, Empress of Russia (née Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine); Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, mid 1890s
NPG P1700(24c)

Christening group, by Percy Lewis Pocock, for W. & D. Downey - NPG P1700(8a)

Christening group

by Percy Lewis Pocock, for W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 16 July 1894
NPG P1700(8a)

Princess Alexandra, Princess Arthur of Connaught; Queen Alexandra; Princess Maud, Countess of Southesk, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P1700(8c)

Princess Alexandra, Princess Arthur of Connaught; Queen Alexandra; Princess Maud, Countess of Southesk

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, circa 1894
NPG P1700(8c)

Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII), by W. & D. Downey - NPG P1700(14d)

Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII)

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1895
NPG P1700(14d)

Haakon VII, King of Norway; Queen Alexandra; Maud, Queen of Norway, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P1700(24a)

Haakon VII, King of Norway; Queen Alexandra; Maud, Queen of Norway

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1896
NPG P1700(24a)

Queen Mary, by W. & D. Downey - NPG P1700(57b)

Queen Mary

by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1901
NPG P1700(57b)

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