This pictorialist nighttime cityscape view shows the lighted spire of the Chicago Temple building, known as the First United Methodist Church of Chicago. When it was dedicated on September 28, 1924, this Neogothic skyscraper by the firm Holabird & Root was the tallest building in Chicago at 568 feet tall.

The author’s title: Babylonia Rediviva, translating to Babylon Revived, appears to be a commentary on Man’s folly and God, as the word Babylon as it appears in the Bible can be interpreted as a symbol of decadence. From Bible Hub online resource:  “The Tower of Babel narrative sets the stage for Babylon’s symbolic role as a representation of human arrogance and defiance. The people of Babel sought to build a tower reaching the heavens, aiming to make a name for themselves and avoid being scattered across the earth. In response, God confused their language and dispersed them, thwarting their plans. This event illustrates the futility of human efforts to usurp divine authority and underscores Babylon’s enduring symbolism as a center of rebellion.”

Mario Lucio Scacheri: 1888-1940

Born in Italy, Mario Lucio Scacheri emigrated to the United States in 1912 and would eventually make his home in Chicago, where his photographs began to win prizes in photography contests as early as 1926. Before this time, he was living in Boston, where “Marios Scacheri” was working for the Berlitz School of Languages, according to his WWI draft notice.

Wildred French, writing in The Photo-Era, made the following comments about another early Scacheri photographic effort which also featured skyscrapers, his first prize picture “Modern Visions” for the magazine’s Beginners’ Competition published in the June, 1926 issue:

“WHETHER it is smoke or steam that partly obscures the buildings in Mr. Scacheri’s “Modern Visions”, is not clear. At all events, its presence enabled the vigilant, persevering artist to capture an extremely pleasing picture. That he is also master of his photographic equipment, is equally true; for the exposure and the subsequent technical work could not be better. The rising vapor, which threatens to obscure the tall office-building, as well as the tower at the right, has been well-managed, i.e., its tonality, and the buildings are allowed to assert themselves with adequate vigor, so that extreme contrasts are skillfully and happily avoided. It would be unkind to criticize the well defined roof of the nearest structure as it sweeps across the foreground, or to wish that the camerist might have waited until it was nearly enveloped by the smoke. The result achieved is so satisfying that I, for one, am pleased to put the seal of approval on the camerist’s present effort.” -Wilfred A. French (p. 334)

His talents in the camera arts would lead him to becoming a professional, and by 1930, still living in Chicago, he lists his profession as photographer for the U.S. Census. His wife Mabel Scacheri (1892-1983) was an editor at an encyclopedia business. In 1933, Mario Scacheri went on to become a staff photographer for the Chicago World’s Fair weekly paper. Three years later, after moving to New York City, he became a staff photographer for the New York World Telegram newspaper in 1936. The photographer and his wife were a team effort. Mario and Mabel went on to publish a photography book: “The Fun of Photography“, in 1938; and two books featuring native American Indians: “Winnebago Boy” and “Indians Today.”

Obituary: The New York Times: Mario Scacheri: “Camera Editor of The New York World-Telegram Was Author” 

Mario Scacheri, camera editor of The New York World-Telegram, died on Wednesday at his home, 10 Monroe Street, of a heart attack.

He was 42 years old. (sic) Born in Milan, Italy, the son of Lieut. Col. Giovanni Scacheri, Mr. Scacheri came to this country in 1912. After teaching languages in Chicago and Seattle he became staff photographer in 1933 for the weekly paper at the Chicago World’s Fair. He joined the staff of The World-Telegram in 1936. His column was purchased by the United Feature Syndicate in 1938 and published in newspapers throughout the country.

Mr. Scacheri and his wife, the former Mabel Delameter, had written several books, among them “The Fun of Photography, published in 1938; “Winnebago Boy” and “Indians Today.” The latter work was written after he and his wife had spent several months among the Pueblo Indians in New Mexico in 1934. Besides his widow, he leaves a brother and a sister.  -published August 2, 1940