 An extremely shy man , Etty rarely socialised and never married . From 1824 until his death he lived with his niece Betsy ( Elizabeth Etty ) . Even in London he retained a keen interest in his native York , and was instrumental in the establishment of the town 's first art school and the campaign to preserve York city walls . While he never formally converted from his Methodist faith , he was deeply attached to the Roman Catholic Church and was one of the few non @-@ Catholics to attend the 1838 opening of Augustus Pugin 's chapel for St Mary 's College , Oscott . 
