A Marian image in which the Virgin sits low to the ground, often on a cushion rather than on a throne, emphasizing humility and intimacy.
The Madonna of Humility shows the Virgin seated on or close to the ground, commonly on a cushion, often with the Christ Child. The type contrasts with the enthroned Majesty and became popular in the later Middle Ages.
Etymology
Madonna from Italian “my lady”; humility from Latin humilitas, related to humus, “ground.”
Sculptor Notes
Lowering the figure changes the entire geometry of the composition. The sculptor should use the folded legs, mantle, and child to create a stable low pyramid rather than simply taking an enthroned Madonna and removing the throne.
References
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/437290; https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/the-cult-of-the-virgin-mary-in-the-middle-ages