Final answer:
The discovery of perspective, a mathematical system for representing three-dimensional space on a flat surface, is credited to Filippo Brunelleschi. Perspective allowed artists to accurately portray physical space and create realistic works.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discovery of the rules of perspective, a mathematical system for representing three-dimensional space on a flat surface, is credited to architect Filippo Brunelleschi. In the early 15th century, Brunelleschi developed a geometrical understanding of perspective, which was rapidly adopted by Renaissance artists. Perspective allowed artists to accurately portray physical space and create works that tricked the eye and rivaled nature.