He weakened rapidly during the spring and summer. His close friend,the painter Joseph Severn, persuaded him to spend the fall and winter in Italy. But Keats had given up all hope of recovery; He died in Rome on February 23,1821.❖ He weakened rapidly during the spring and summer. ❖ His close friend, the painter Joseph Severn, persuaded him to spend the fall and winter in Italy. ❖ But Keats had given up all hope of recovery. ❖ He died in Rome on February 23, 1821