Craquelure phenomena compromise both the visual appeal and structural integrity of historical artworks, representing a formidable challenge to the preservation of cultural heritage. To address this issue, a novel modelling framework has been developed to investigate the failure mechanisms of historical paintings exposed to humidity fluctuations. The model captures the critical interactions among the essential layers (canvas, rabbit skin glue, and paint) by incorporating humidity-induced variations in material properties and the resulting moisture-driven expansion. A simplified two-dimensional approach is adopted to describe moisture diffusion in paintings, represented by two elastic-brittle solids connected by a cohesive interface. To accurately characterize damage, two phase-field fracture approaches are employed: one simulates the initiation and propagation of cracks within the paint layer, while the other describes the adhesive behaviour between the layers. Extensive numerical simulations conducted under diverse conditions demonstrate that the model effectively reproduces the complex failure phenomena associated with craquelure. The insights gained from these simulations are instrumental in guiding the development of preventive conservation strategies that support the long-term preservation of cultural heritage.