Love Immortal: Antique Photographs and Stories of Dogs and Their People

Art and antiques appraiser Cavo has been collecting vintage photographs since he was in grade school. This book features his collection of portraits that depict people with their beloved canine companions. The photographs come from 24 countries and span the 1840s through the 1940s. Cavo writes that the Victorian Age saw the emergence of specific dog breeds as humans applied animal husbandry knowledge gained from rearing livestock. Breeds emerged with desirable traits to benefit humans, and we see that trend play out in the pages of this book. Also through this collection of photographs, we see the evolution of fashions, hairstyles, portrait backdrops, and daily life. Cavo includes canine trivia, anecdotes about brave dogs who have saved lives, and information about celebrations honoring our beloved doggie friends. Beyond demonstrating the inextricable bonds between humans and their dogs, this book provides a brief history of photography, as it shows the standard formal portraits giving way to more casual shots with the 1888 advent of preloaded cameras containing 100 exposures.