Final answer:
During the Renaissance, painters used mechanical devices and techniques such as linear perspective to reproduce scenes realistically.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is C. the Renaissance. During the Renaissance period in Europe, many painters worked to reproduce scenes as they would have appeared to observers, using mechanical devices to see, measure, and render. This approach to painting became more 'scientific' with the use of techniques such as linear perspective, which created the illusion of three-dimensional space on paper or canvas. Artists like Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Titian were part of this movement, creating realistic and authentic paintings.