Who invented sfumato that enables a painter to blend tones and colors gradually whichsoftened outlines?

Sfumato, a painting technique that allows for the subtle blending of tones and colors to create soft outlines and transitions, was famously employed by Leonardo da Vinci. This technique is characterized by its smooth transitions between colors and tones, which creates an atmospheric effect, giving depth to the painting. Da Vinci utilized sfumato in several of his masterpieces, most notably in the "Mona Lisa," where the soft gradations of light and shadow enhance the three-dimensionality of the figure. The word "sfumato" derives from the Italian term "sfumare," which means "to evaporate" or "to tone down," reflecting the technique's objective of achieving a more natural and lifelike representation.