Which artist was the first to paint in a style that would later develop fully in renaissance art?

The first artist often credited with pioneering techniques that would later flourish in Renaissance art is Giotto di Bondone. Active in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, Giotto's work marked a significant departure from the flat, symbolic styles of medieval art, introducing more naturalism, depth, and emotional expression. His use of chiaroscuro and perspective laid the groundwork for the advancements that characterized the Renaissance.