A representation of the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, one of the central subjects of Catholic and Western Christian sculpture.
Madonna and Child is the Western name for representations of the Virgin Mary with the infant or young Christ. The type ranges from hieratic enthroned images to intimate Gothic and Renaissance groups emphasizing affection between mother and child.
Etymology
Italian Madonna, “my lady,” from ma donna.
Sculptor Notes
For the sculptor, the essential problem is a two-figure mass with unequal scale. The Child must feel physically supported by Mary's body while remaining compositionally distinct. The line of Mary's arms, mantle, and gaze can close or open the group.
References
https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/the-cult-of-the-virgin-mary-in-the-middle-ages