 By the time Musidora was exhibited , Etty 's health was in serious decline . Suffering severe asthma , it was not unusual for passers @-@ by to accuse him of drunkenness as he made his way wheezing through the London streets , and he was beginning to plan his retirement from polluted London to his beloved York . Abandoning the smaller paintings which kept him profitable , he strived to complete his Joan of Arc triptych before his health gave out . This was on a huge scale , 28 ft ( 8 @.@ 5 m ) in total width and 9 ft 9 in ( 3 m ) high ; the three pictures from left to right depicted Joan devoting herself to the service of God and her country , Joan scattering the enemies of France , and Joan dying a martyr . 
