Will shipping an oil painting in the cold weather have a negative impact on the painting/paint?

I purcahsed two oil paintings dated 1855, if I have them transported via UPS in this cold weather will that have a negative impact on the painting/paint? Will this harm the paintings or cause them to crack or chip or deteriorate in any way. Would it be better for me to pick them up so to provide them with a climate controled invironment?....................the one painting already has overall crackelure.Will shipping an oil painting in the cold weather have a negative impact on the painting/paint?
It is a difficult compromise when moving and shipping oil paintings or lithographs, or prints or water colors.





First: any drastic changes in temperatures, especially wide ranges of temperature or humidity, can have an effect on the art. Moving paintings from one temperature to another, and from one climate to another will adversely affect any art. Like freezing and then thawing anything, it can have a crackling effect as the dry paint on canvas or wood expands and contracts . A painting from 1855 may have more trouble depending on the type of oils and self-mixed pigments the artist used in that era.





Second: humidity may build up if the painting or water color is behind glass, or wrapped in a plastic that holds moisture in and doesn't allow it to escape. (Just imagine the fogging of your windshield in cold weather.)





Third: insulation may help somewhat. But be careful that whatever you use doesn't have its own chemical affect on oil paintings. Some plastics if allowed to touch the paint may have an effect as well. Some types of paper contain sulphur or other chemicals that may react to paper and water colors. They can foster the ';bloom'; that sometimes allows spotting and ';foxing'; of rare books and prints as well.





Depending of the value of the artwork, you could check with an art conservator or museum, and ask what they recommend. If it is not the sort of art that is worth special museum-quality transport, you might just wait until the weather gets better in the Spring !





good luck.Will shipping an oil painting in the cold weather have a negative impact on the painting/paint?
well if the painting is in a safe package it will be safe.
Make sure they are delicate with them, so say that when they are shipping. you have to pay extra for that. And make sure they put that protective stuff over the painting. It keeps your picture from chipping and keeps it in shape longer. make sure it is in a good container, box or what not, to make it where it wont really move inside. And make the painting itself is covered nicely. In this weather right now, I would say get it on express delivery, just to make sure. If you can pick them up yourself though, I would, defiantly.
Extreme cold will make them more brittle and possibly cause more cracking.
I think if thay are crated,and packaged like a fragile item they should be ok,but to be sure I would have them insured.Or you could pick them up yourself and if you are storing them,make sure they are in a warm and dry place without them going against anything that could distort them.

prom hair