Benque et Cie was a French photographic studio founded by Wilhelm BENQUE (1843-1903), a French portrait photographer of German origin, belonging to an important dynasty of photographers, the Benque. Wilhelm BENQUE known as “the Younger” descends from a family originating from Ludwigslust (Mecklenburg, Germany). When he arrived in Paris, he joined forces with one of the Benque family members, his cousin, Franz Wilhelm BENQUE (1857-1912), who was the son of the landscape painter Wilhelm Friedrich Alexander BENQUE (1814-1895) with which should not be confused. The latter had a younger brother, Christian BENQUE (1811-1883) whose son, Franz BENQUE (1841-1921) became a photographer, first in Hamburg (1869-1870), then in Brazil (from 1878) before settle in Trieste. From the 1880s, the Benque founded a veritable family dynasty of photographers present on three continents. In the 1880s and 1890s, Wilhelm BENQUE and Franz BENQUE established their studio in Paris at 33, rue Boissy-d'Anglas in the name of "Benque, Benque et Cie": with success, Maison Benque occupied a hotel at this address, particularly targeting a luxury clientele, and even opens a showroom at 5 rue Royale. The Benques also opened a second studio in Nice around 1883-1884. The studio is particularly active with personalities linked to the world of opera, the Parisian scene. In the meantime, the house joined forces with two other photographers, named KLARY and KNEUBUHLER, the name became Benque & Klary for a time until it was taken over by MATUSZEWSKI after 1902.