An exhibition of rare 17th-century Italian tapestries that once decorated St. Peter’s Basilica will be on view beginning Sept. 23 at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art on the University of Oregon campus. The exhibition of massive tapestries made for Cardinal Francesco Barberini includes a highly-regarded series on the life of Christ, on loan from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. The Barberini Tapestries exhibit will open with a free reception on Friday, Sept. 22, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Eugene museum is the only west coast venue for the exhibition, which marks the first time the tapestries have traveled in more than a century. The 12-panel series was designed by the Italian baroque master Giovanni Francesco Romanelli at a time when most tapestries were made in the Netherlands or France. The panels are more than 15 feet tall and range from 12 to 19 feet in length.