 Following the completion of Joan of Arc , Etty 's health continued to deteriorate . He continued to paint and exhibit , but his retirement plans grew firmer . In April 1846 he bought a house in Coney Street , central York , as a retirement home , and in December 1847 he formally resigned from the Council of the Royal Academy . Following structural alterations to give him a better view of the river , Etty moved into the house in June 1848 , completing the move in September of that year , although he retained his London apartments . His move from London caused some consternation among that city 's models , who were losing one of their most regular customers , as well as concerns from Etty who was worried that working with nude models might cause a scandal in York . 
