Madonna of Humility

In this type of painting the Virgin Mary is depicted sitting on the ground, or on a cushion on the floor, holding the Christ Child. It arose from the medieval idea that humility was the root of all virtue, and was popular in northern Italy in the late 14th century.

Such paintings usually include the Virgin's attributes such as the closed garden (the hortus conclusus) and the crown of twelve stars, or the lily, symbolising her purity.