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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.

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John Dawson Watson, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x136796

John Dawson Watson

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1871-1877
NPG x136796

Queen Victoria, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x6855

Queen Victoria

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1872
NPG x6855

Queen Victoria, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x87692

Queen Victoria

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1872
NPG x87692

Queen Victoria, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax38601

Queen Victoria

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1872
NPG Ax38601

Queen Victoria, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x46576

Queen Victoria

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 27 February 1872
NPG x46576

Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax46164

Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, March 1872
NPG Ax46164

Queen Victoria, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x13973

Queen Victoria

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1872
NPG x13973

Queen Victoria, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x127209

Queen Victoria

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1872
NPG x127209

Princess Beatrice of Battenberg, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax28411

Princess Beatrice of Battenberg

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, March 1872
NPG Ax28411

Princess Beatrice of Battenberg, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax46163

Princess Beatrice of Battenberg

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, March 1872
NPG Ax46163

Queen Victoria, after W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax46156

Queen Victoria

after W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1872
NPG Ax46156

Queen Victoria, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x20128

Queen Victoria

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 27 February 1872
NPG x20128

Giovanni Matteo de Candia (Mario), by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax28522

Giovanni Matteo de Candia (Mario)

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1874 or before
NPG Ax28522

Charlotte Helen Sainton-Dolby, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax28526

Charlotte Helen Sainton-Dolby

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1874 or before
NPG Ax28526

Ira David Sankey, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x132834

Ira David Sankey

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, 1874
NPG x132834

Ira David Sankey, by Hughes & Edmonds, possibly after  W. & D. Downey - NPG x139654

Ira David Sankey

by Hughes & Edmonds, possibly after W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, circa 1875 (1874)
NPG x139654

Queen Alexandra, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x12854

Queen Alexandra

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1876
NPG x12854

Queen Alexandra, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x196243

Queen Alexandra

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1876
NPG x196243

Maximo and Bartola, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x132258

Maximo and Bartola

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, late 1870s?
On display in Room 22 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x132258

Sir Charles Edward Trevelyan, 1st Bt, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x4988

Sir Charles Edward Trevelyan, 1st Bt

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, late 1870s-mid 1880s
NPG x4988

Mary ('Patsy') Cornwallis-West (née Fitzpatrick), by W. & D. Downey - NPG x197092

Mary ('Patsy') Cornwallis-West (née Fitzpatrick)

by W. & D. Downey
albumen carte-de-visite, late 1870s-early 1880s
NPG x197092

Sarah Bernhardt, probably by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax7668

Sarah Bernhardt

probably by W. & D. Downey
woodburytype, 1879
NPG Ax7668

Sarah Bernhardt, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x144186

Sarah Bernhardt

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1879
NPG x144186

Luke Fildes, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x20435

Luke Fildes

by W. & D. Downey
carbon print on card and paper mount, published 1894 (1880s?)
NPG x20435

Belle Raymond, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x22005

Belle Raymond

by W. & D. Downey
carbon carte-de-visite, 1880s-1890s
NPG x22005

Percy Lewis Pocock, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x1579

Percy Lewis Pocock

by W. & D. Downey
sepia albumen cabinet card, circa 1880
NPG x1579

Luke Fildes, by W. & D. Downey, published by  Cassell & Company, Ltd - NPG Ax27925

Luke Fildes

by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1894 (1880s?)
NPG Ax27925

Samuel Laing, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x47282

Samuel Laing

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1880s
NPG x47282

King Edward VII, by W. & D. Downey - NPG Ax5550

King Edward VII

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1880s
NPG Ax5550

King Edward VII, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x3800

King Edward VII

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1880s
NPG x3800

Lillie Langtry, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x131999

Lillie Langtry

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, early-mid 1880s
NPG x131999

King Edward VII, by W. & D. Downey - NPG x127208

King Edward VII

by W. & D. Downey
albumen cabinet card, 1880s
NPG x127208

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