W. & D. Downey
(active 1855-1940), PhotographersArtist 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.
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1868
NPG Ax18370
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1868
NPG Ax18275
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
by W. & D. Downey, published by Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington
woodburytype, 1868, published 1881
NPG Ax17621
King Edward VII and his family
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, Autumn 1868
NPG x3611
King Edward VII and his family
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, Autumn 1868
NPG x15160
King Edward VII and his family
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, Autumn 1868
NPG x20133
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1868
NPG x3601
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 25 May 1868
NPG x3610
John Brown; Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Duchess of Argyll; Queen Victoria
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1868
NPG x3608
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1868
NPG x3612
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1868
NPG Ax27712
Queen Alexandra; Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, September 1868
On display in Room 22 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG Ax46173
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1868
NPG Ax46195
Queen Alexandra; Princess Victoria of Wales
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, Autumn 1868
NPG x3602
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1868
NPG x38390
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1868
NPG x45467
Queen Alexandra; Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, September 1868
NPG x22090
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
by W. & D. Downey
woodburytype carte-de-visite, 1868
NPG x659
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
by W. & D. Downey
postcard print, 1900s (1868)
NPG x662
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1868
NPG x664
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1868
NPG x75758
Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1868
NPG x3613
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield
by Raphael Tuck, possibly after W. & D. Downey
chromolithograph, mid-late 1880s (circa 1868)
NPG x135387
Queen Alexandra; Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, September 1868
NPG x135624
Queen Alexandra; Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, September 1868
NPG x197570
King Edward VII when Prince of Wales
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1869
NPG x32937
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG Ax25080
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG Ax39848
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, early 1870s
NPG x74317
Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG Ax46166
Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG Ax46167
Fannie (née Heriot), Lady Wentworth
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870
NPG x32958
Fannie (née Heriot), Lady Wentworth
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870
NPG x32957
Fannie (née Heriot), Lady Wentworth; possibly Maria Colclough Turner (née Heriot, later Blyth)
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870
NPG x32959
Frederick III, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1870
NPG x36372
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG Ax38451
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG Ax38450
Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Duchess of Argyll
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1870
NPG x76774
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG Ax18176
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG Ax39915
Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG Ax46169
John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll
probably after W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1870
NPG Ax46171
John Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870
NPG x15576
Carte-de-visite of 9th Duke of Argyll and wife.
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870
NPG x31040
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG Ax46232
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG x197072
Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Duchess of Argyll
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870
NPG x197209
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1870s
NPG x197313
Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, Duchess of Argyll
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870
NPG x197572
Napoléon III, Emperor of France
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1871
NPG Ax18272
'Before Prison - The Claimant' (Arthur Orton)
by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, circa 1871-1874
NPG x29188
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1871-1874
NPG x75761
by W. & D. Downey
albumen print on paper mount, circa 1871-1874
NPG x12624
Victoria, Empress of Germany and Queen of Prussia
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1871
NPG Ax46158
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1871
NPG x32936
Ada Mary Milbanke, 14th Baroness Wentworth; Fannie (née Heriot), Lady Wentworth
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1871
NPG x132243
Prince Francis of Teck; Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1871
NPG Ax46184
Napoléon III, Emperor of France
by W. & D. Downey
vintage print, 1871
NPG x87213
The children of King Edward VII when Prince of Wales
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1871
NPG x133414
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1871
NPG x134599
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