Help! I have a giant painting trapped in my house!

[steamedxmaspudding]

This will out me to anyone who knows me but...

I have a giant oil painting upstairs in my house (about 2m square) which I have to move as we're having some building work done in a couple of weeks. Only problem is, it won't fit down the stairs! Or into any of the other rooms on that floor. What the hell do I do? I love it and really don't want to damage it. I have been in touch with various art conservators/reframers etc but none of them have been able to help or even offer any advice.

Current plan is to take it off the frame (it's not framed under glass, just canvas stretched over wood) and then just bend it a little bit to get it downstairs but I'm really worried about the paint cracking 😫

Any ideas gratefully received!

Hi @steamedxmaspudding Congratulations 💐can totally understand that you've been pre-occupied. Thank you for picking up on the thread again and glad the picture was undamaged.

Maybe a carpet shop could help you out with packing when you need to try again? Am thinking of the inner roll they wrap the carpets around. You never know your luck.

@steamedxmaspudding
Thank you for the update, and congratulations!

Sorry for DH but the bannisters come down. Only way that I can see.

This is a genius idea, I know just the carpet shop too! Thank you!

In case anyone is still interested in this, thought I'd post an update - after skirting the issue during building work we ended up moving house so I did have to try and get it downstairs. My handyman came and took it off the frame and took the frame apart and then we gently folded the top down and carried it down to reassemble. Fortunately it didn't crack apart from one tiny place which was a relief, the paint was obviously hardier than I thought! Here it is finally downstairs waiting for the movers.

I have no helpful solutions but that’s amazing. Please adopt me and let me live with you and your beautiful painting.

Just saw the update. Still… love.

I love it when there’s a conclusion or final update. Good luck with the move!

Best of luck with the move and thank you for the update!

@Evaporateandlisten thank you! I love it too! DH obviously has no taste haha

I love an update and it’s a beautiful picture!! Good luck with the move :)

I’ve only just found this thread so glad to see a conclusion was reached but I just wanted to say what a fucking fantastic painting! I love it. We should all have such excessively sized art in our homes!

Oh I remember this!
Thanks for the updates @steamedxmaspudding
Good luck with the move.
Please tell us you are moving into Chatsworth House so the amazing painting can be properly appreciated!
It's always reminded me of scene in Shrek where Princess Fiona meets Lord Farquaad for the first time... 😂

Glad you got painting down. Assume in new house unless massive it will be on a downstairs wall

Can you tell us anything about the painting, please?
Who is it by, and what's the title? Is it a real place?

Wrap the painting in a robust protective way and move it.

Great that you found a solution.
It's a very theatrical painting.

Great to read the update! Love your massive painting too.

Yeah, attach to the ceiling - build a sling, one of those big slings that you put cuddly toys in is a good idea

Clearly I didn’t scroll down far enough 😂

lovely painting!

Have you had it valued? It looks like it may be worth a fair amount ?

Is it Italy ? Because of the trees

Great update. Thanks

@WeeAgnes I wish I were moving to Chatsworth! Actually although the house is a bit bigger there still aren't many walls big enough for the painting... I think I can squeeze it in the living room though I'll have to remove a light fitting.

@BaronessBomburst I'm afraid I don't know anything about it! It's not signed or anything. It was just described as 19th century European School when I bought it.

@LaurieFairyCake I bought it a few years ago for about £300 - the auction estimate was quite a lot higher but there's a limited pool of buyers for paintings this size so I don't think it's worth loads, tbh. Although I like it a lot it's not a masterpiece or anything. And yes I think it looks like Italy too, all the cypresses and whatnot!