Many museum staff members are involved from the time that a request to lend a painting is received to when it returns at the end of the loan period. This paper gives a conservator's personal view. It considers the problems of deciding which paintings are in a fit state to be lent, and the assessment of the borrowing institution's ability to care for paintings during the period of the loan. It examines the procedures for which the conservator is responsible before, during, and after the loan. Finally, it looks at the finances of lending paintings. The paper is intended to draw attention to the areas of uncertainty that still exist in all aspects of lending paintings.