How did Anthony van Dyck study the work of Titian and other Venetian painters?

During his years in Italy, Anthony van Dyck actively studied the works of the great Italian masters, with a particular focus on the Venetian school and Titian.1

He documented this study through a sketchbook, now held in the British Museum, which contains numerous rapid sketches of their compositions. These sketches often included his own handwritten notes regarding color and spontaneous words of praise for the works he observed.1

This engagement with Venetian art significantly influenced his own development, leading to a refinement in his work characterized by greater coloristic and expressive qualities. His exposure to these masters, alongside his earlier training, helped him formulate his own approach to portraiture, which he later adapted into his own unique style.12