Final answer:
The camera obscura was a device used by artists during the Renaissance to project an upside-down image of the outside scene onto a surface inside a darkened box. This device played a significant role in the development of photography.
Step-by-step explanation:
The camera obscura was a device used by artists during the Renaissance. It consisted of a darkened box with a small hole in one side, which acted as a lens. When light passed through the hole, it projected an upside-down image of the outside scene onto the opposite surface inside the box. Artists could then trace this image to create highly accurate representations. The camera obscura played a significant role in the development of photography, although the technology to capture images on a permanent surface wasn't available until the 19th century.