Virgin of Humility
from 1433 until 1435
Before this painting, the Virgin Mary was almost always depicted as a queen on a high throne, but Fra Angelico follows a radical new trend by seating her on a low cushion on the ground—literally 'humility' (from the Latin *humus*). She holds a vase of white lilies symbolizing purity while the Christ child, dressed in pink, clings to her. The scene is a heavenly concert: angels hold up a golden curtain above, while two musicians at her feet play a lute and a harp, filling the space with divine music.
- Technique
- Tempera and gold leaf
- Material
- Wood panel
Location: Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid
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