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.
Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG x134610
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1863
NPG x32945
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1864
NPG x26536
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1864
NPG Ax7568
Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1865
NPG Ax16243
Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1865
NPG Ax17733
Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1865
NPG x75841
George Granville William Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1865
NPG Ax7410
(John) Evelyn Denison, 1st Viscount Ossington
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1865
NPG Ax8556
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1865
NPG x12860
George Percy, 5th Duke of Northumberland
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1865
NPG Ax7412
William Drogo Montagu, 7th Duke of Manchester
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1865
NPG Ax7413
Charles John Howard, 17th Earl of Suffolk
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1865
NPG Ax7453
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1865
NPG Ax8664
Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1865
NPG x127027
King Edward VII; Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
by W. & D. Downey
hand-coloured albumen carte-de-visite, 1866
NPG Ax46779
King Edward VII; Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1866
NPG x3606
Queen Alexandra; King George V; Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1866
NPG Ax38289
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale; King George V; Queen Alexandra
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1866
NPG x129624
by W. & D. Downey
hand-coloured albumen carte-de-visite, 1866
NPG Ax46784
by W. & D. Downey
albumen print on photographer's mount, 1866
NPG Ax7264
Queen Alexandra; King George V; Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale
by W. & D. Downey
hand-coloured albumen carte-de-visite, 1866
NPG Ax46778
Princess Beatrice of Battenberg
by W. & D. Downey
hand-coloured albumen carte-de-visite, 1866
NPG Ax46789
Princess Beatrice of Battenberg
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1866
NPG x3605
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale; King George V
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1866
NPG x3614
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, October 1866
NPG Ax39815
by W. & D. Downey, published by Edward Roden
albumen print, 1866, published 1867
NPG Ax137690
by W. & D. Downey
albumen print, 1866
NPG Ax196518
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1866
NPG x6848
Edward Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1867
NPG Ax16247
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1867
NPG Ax17732
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1867
NPG Ax11957
by W. & D. Downey
hand-coloured albumen carte-de-visite, 1867
NPG Ax46785
Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, late 1860s
NPG x26117
Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine; Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, late 1860s
NPG x3603
Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck; Prince Francis, Duke of Teck
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa late 1860s
NPG x3607
Princess Helena Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa late 1860s
NPG x36355
King Edward VII; Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine; Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1867
NPG x3609
Princess Helena Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa late 1860s
NPG Ax46168
by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1867
NPG x197521
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