1567-1570
Since Crete was part of the territory of the Republic of Venice, it was natural for him to move to Venice to continue his studies. The exact date of his arrival is not known, but it is estimated that he left Crete in 1567.
He lived in Venice until around 1570, attempting to follow the styles of the artists who dominated the city's artistic life at the time, including Titian and Tintoretto. During this period, he adopted the technique of oil painting, now painting on canvas instead of wood.
One of the works that illustrate Theotokopoulos' transition from Byzantine to Western idiom is the Modena Triptych (circa 1560-1565), which includes elements clearly inspired by the styles prevailing in Italy, intertwined with themes influenced by Greco-Roman antiquity.
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