 Masaccio is often compared to contemporaries like Donatello and Brunelleschi as a pioneer of the renaissance , particularly for his use of single @-@ point perspective . One technique that was unique to Masaccio , however , was the use of atmospheric , or aerial perspective . Both the mountains in the background , and the figure of Peter on the left are dimmer and paler than the objects in the foreground , creating an illusion of depth . This technique was known in ancient Rome , but was considered lost until reinvented by Masaccio . 
