 Making up for lost time during illness , he completed several significant works over the next few months , and exhibited eight paintings at the 1835 Summer Exhibition . These included works now considered among his most significant . The Bridge of Sighs , Venice was based on sketches made by Etty during his visit to that city in the early 1820s . It shows the aftermath of an execution , as two men haul the body away to be thrown into the sea ; it was described as " poetry on canvas " by William Macready , who bought it from Etty . Preparing for a Fancy Dress Ball was the portrait of the daughters of Charles Watkin Williams @-@ Wynn which Etty had begun in 1833 . Etty had put far more work into this than was usual for a portrait , remarking to the Williams @-@ Wynn family that he intended " to make a fine work of Art as well as a resemblance " . Showing Williams @-@ Wynn 's daughters Charlotte and Mary in elaborate Italian @-@ style costumes , it was critically well received as evidence that Etty was able to paint a major work that did not rely on nudity , as well as demonstrating that Etty could paint on commission for the elite , leading to further commissions . The Warrior Arming was a study of Godfrey de Bouillon. painted to satisfy the then @-@ current fad for medievalism . Etty had recently developed an interest in collecting pieces of armour , and The Warrior Arming is a technically adept study of the effects of lights from multiple sources shining on polished armour . 
