In the 15th century, there existed two major factions of painting style. One faction existed north of the Alps (Netherlands) and the other south of the Alps (Italy). Netherlands painting was labeled as a late-Gothic idiom and Italian painting as a Renaissance idiom. Although the two did not share a common heritage, they both represented the spirit to pursue realism. Netherlands artists employed skills of realistic precision to illustrate details of natural subjects in order to produce the effect of real vision. Italian artists applied scientific principles to explore visual impression and used linear perspective to emphasize visual illusion. Driven by the pursuit of realism, the paintings have transformed from logistic formality into vivid sensuality. This means the depicted subject must possess a realistic form and a vivification to highlight the perception of the mind.