 While he appears to have been attracted to young women throughout his life , and there is a strong suggestion in his letters that in his early years he had a sexual encounter with one of his models and possibly also a sexual encounter of some kind while in Venice , there is no suggestion that he ever had a sexual relationship with Betsy of any kind . He recorded in his diary in 1830 that " it is best I have not married because I have not noisy Children and can have nice Books , and Pictures etc " . He suffered from extreme shyness throughout his life , and when compelled to attend dinner parties would often sit silent throughout , although he was popular with fellow artists and students . Etty rarely socialised , preferring to concentrate on his painting ; when on one occasion it was suggested that he had little further need of training and need not continue attending classes , he indignantly replied that " it fills up a couple of hours in the evening , I should be at a loss how else to employ " . 
