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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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Mary Augusta Ward (née Arnold)

by W. & D. Downey
carbon cabinet card, published 1890
NPG x27267

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Mary Augusta Ward (née Arnold)

by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x27265

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Mary Augusta Ward (née Arnold)

by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x6112

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Hugh Price Hughes

by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x18660

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Farrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell

by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x18427

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Thomas Henry Huxley

by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x11998

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Henry Allon

by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x310

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Sir Frederick Augustus Abel, 1st Bt

by W. & D. Downey
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x261

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Sir Frederick Augustus Abel, 1st Bt

by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x260

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Georgina Elizabeth Ward (née Moncreiffe), Countess of Dudley

by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x10697

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Sir Henry Frederick Ponsonby

by W. & D. Downey, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x12757

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Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster

by W. & D. Downey
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x27356

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Anna Williams

by W. & D. Downey
woodburytype, published 1890
NPG x27412

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Edmond Warre

by W. & D. Downey
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x27279

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James Payn

by W. & D. Downey
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x12700

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John Morley, 1st Viscount Morley of Blackburn

by W. & D. Downey
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x12496

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Maude Millett (Mrs Tennant)

by W. & D. Downey
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x12526

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Sir Frank Lockwood

by W. & D. Downey
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x12470

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Sir James Dromgole Linton

by W. & D. Downey
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x12426

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Joseph Joachim

by W. & D. Downey
carbon print, published 1890
NPG x18879

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