Final answer:
To create a linear perspective, an artist needs to use converging lines, or orthogonals, that meet at a vanishing point, producing the illusion of three-dimensional space on a two-dimensional surface. They may also use atmospheric perspective to make distant objects appear smaller and less distinct.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to create linear perspective, a painter needs to establish a set of parallel lines that recede into the horizon, known as orthogonals. These lines converge at a point called the vanishing point, creating the illusion that they are getting closer and closer until they touch. This technique produces an illusion of three-dimensional space on a flat surface.
Artists use linear perspective, whether it's one, two, or three-point perspective. This requires the use of straight lines to guide the illusion of depth. In images of buildings and streets, linear perspective is prominently displayed. For landscapes, painters often employ atmospheric perspective to create a sense of recession in space. This is done by making distant objects appear smaller, paler, and less detailed, as seen in works by Perugino who used this technique effectively.
Advancements in perspective techniques during the Renaissance allowed artists to more accurately depict the three-dimensional reality of the human form on two-dimensional surfaces. Observing principles of both linear and atmospheric perspective, and understanding the underlying structures, whether of buildings or the human body, enabled artists to render subjects with convincing depth and realism on a flat panel or canvas.