David Wilkie Wynfield (c. 1837 – 26 May 1887) was a British painter and photographer who gained recognition for his historical genre paintings and his pioneering use of shallow-focus portrait photography.

His work has gained renewed interest in recent years due to the efforts of his descendants and his connection with Julia Margaret Cameron.

David Wilkie Wynfield was born in India[1] to a family of military background, with his father serving as an Indian Army officer.

[3] Wynfield exhibited his first painting at the Royal Academy in 1859[2] and joined the St. John's Wood Clique, a group of artists known for their historical narratives.

[3] During this period, the St John's Wood Clique aimed for popular success, while figures such as Whistler promoted the French notion that the artist should "épater le bourgeois."

Wynfield's photographs, including two self-portraits, convey the idea that military and scholarly life can coexist, reflecting a humanist philosophy from the medieval period.

Wynfield specialized in a style of art commonly referred to as 'historical genre', characterized by depictions of historical, domestic, or romantic events from medieval and Renaissance periods.

[4] He rejected the conventions of mainstream Victorian photography and instead used painterly and experimental techniques, such as close-up views, soft focus, and strong contrasts of light and shade.

[1] His activities as a photographer have gained slightly more attention in recent years, thanks to his connection with Julia Margaret Cameron and the efforts of his descendants to revive his reputation.