Then, in 1767, he went down to see his wife, and when he returned to London he brought with him his brother Peter, hoping to be able to assist him in some measure. Peter was not, however, steady or industrious, and, although he sat to his cleverer brother more than once, he did not remain with him long, but drifted away and eventually settled down to a more or less precarious life in Manchester.
Romney now made close friends with Richard Cumberland, who was known at that time as a writer of odes and a man of no small literary grace. Cumberland wrote about his new friend and also introduced him to many other persons, and in this way the artist obtained commissions for portraits from several notable personages.
Another important friend whom he made at this time was the miniature-painter Ozias Humphrey, with whom he made several excursions, and who was one of his closest friends for many years.
Two more efforts he made at this time to visit Italy, which was ever the goal of his desire; but on neither occasion was he able to start. The death of a friend on one occasion and his own serious illness on another prevented his leaving England, but in 1773 the long-desired visit took place.
The two friends, Romney and Humphrey, set out on March 20th, and after resting at Knole, near Sevenoaks, as the guests of the Duke of Dorset, to whom both artists were well known, they left England by water and arrived in Rome on June 18th.
He was provided this time with the best of introductions, especially bearing with him a letter to the reigning Pope Clement XIV., who received him most graciously, and allowed him to have scaffolding specially erected in the Vatican that he might study the works of Raphael.
Other introductions which the artist took with him were from Sir William Hamilton and his nephew Greville.
Romney was not yet a man of any means, and he supported himself whilst in Rome by painting portraits and some historical works, and by copying the great masterpieces which he found in the Eternal City; but he had to make every effort to be economical, as his pictures did not meet with a ready sale in Italy, and he desired to visit many other cities whilst in the country besides Rome.
He actually did see Venice, Bologna, Florence, Padua, Castel-franco, and even some of the smaller cities, as Modena, Reggio and Mantua. Then he slowly made his way back to England by way of Aix and Paris, arriving in London after two years' absence in high spirits, full of ideas, and overwhelmed with enthusiasm for all he had seen, but in a pecuniary condition poorer than he had ever been in his life.
He had, in fact, had to borrow money to carry him through France, and almost to starve himself in his journey, as his small means had long ago vanished, and he had withdrawn all the money that he had banked ere he left Italy.