How did Venetian painting influence Joshua Reynolds's artistic style?

During his return from Italy, Joshua Reynolds became deeply absorbed by the compositions and color palettes of 16th-century Venetian masters, specifically Titian, Jacopo Tintoretto, and Paolo Veronese.1

The Venetian tradition’s emphasis on color and the dramatic effects of light and shading exerted a lasting influence on his work. Although Reynolds consistently advocated for the sculptural definition of form associated with Florentine and Roman painters, his own paintings are frequently described as being redolent of the Venetian style.1

In his early London years, this influence was particularly apparent in his portraiture. Furthermore, Reynolds attempted to replicate the specific effects achieved by artists like Tintoretto and Titian by applying transparent glazes over monochrome underpaintings. While this technique aimed to capture the richness of the Venetian school, his experimental use of pigments and additives—such as bitumen—often proved detrimental to the longevity and surface quality of his portraits.1