When he arrived he was met by demands for immediate assistance on the part of his clever but ne'er-do-well brother Peter, but was for the moment unable to assist him.
He found, however, that his own fame had increased during his absence, and the demand for work from his brush was considerable, so much so that he was overwhelmed with the commissions that flowed in.
He felt now that he was in a position to take a larger house in a more fashionable neighbourhood than he had possessed before; and accordingly, as Francis Cotes, R.A., the painter in pastel, had died, and his house in Cavendish Square was still vacant, Romney took it and moved in on Christmas Day, 1775.
Cotes had died in 1770, and the sale of his effects took place in February, 1771; but after that the house stood vacant for a long time, and when Romney took it needed some considerable repair.
Romney had ever a fondness for bricks and mortar, and was delighted at the prospect of altering and adding to the house.
He bought the lease, which had some thirty years to run, and was subject to a rental of £105 per annum; and, although there was already a good studio attached to the premises in the form of a double room with sky-light and domed ceiling, yet the artist must needs set about building another and adding to the accommodation of the house, and so again exhausting his savings.
He also foolishly declined many of the commissions sent him, because he did not possess a studio which was, according to his ideas, fit for the reception of his clients, and in this way an idea got about that he was not desirous of doing any more work. The public taste accordingly veered round, and for a short time Romney found himself deserted by the crowds of would-be-sitters who had just before poured in upon him.
Then the Duke of Richmond, who had befriended the artist before, and had opened his gallery of sculpture to his use at any time, looked in upon him at his new residence and gave him several commissions, besides bringing with him many of his own friends, and was delighted to have the artist for a while practically to himself and his own circle of acquaintance. This turned the tide once more in the artist's favour, and prosperity never again deserted him.
