Artwork
Madonna of Humility
Madonna of Humility is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Olivuccio di Ciccarello. It dates from 1394 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
The *Madonna of Humility* is a tempera panel painted in 1394 by Olivuccio di Ciccarello, an Italian artist whose career spanned from the late 1380s until his death in 1439. Executed in the late Gothic period, the work is now part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection and exemplifies the devotional imagery common to the era.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents the Virgin Mary seated directly upon the earth, a motif known as the humility type, with the infant Christ cradled on her lap. Two winged angels flank the pair, their golden halos emphasizing the sacred nature of the scene. The calm expression of the mother and the child’s reaching gesture convey a tender, intimate interaction between humanity and the divine.
Technique & Style
Rendered in the Byzantine iconographic tradition, the painting employs a restrained palette of soft blues, golds, and muted earth tones. Tempera brushwork creates a smooth, luminous surface, while gilded details on the angels’ wings and halos add a subtle brilliance. Signs of aging appear as faint wear in the paint layers, attesting to the work’s centuries‑long history.
History & Provenance
Born in Camerino and primarily active in Ancona, Olivuccio di Ciccarello was a leading figure of the regional Gothic school. After remaining in private or ecclesiastical hands for several centuries, the panel entered the Art Institute of Chicago, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s European medieval holdings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Olivuccio di Ciccarello (died 1439) was an Italian painter. Little is known of his life. He was a native of Camerino and was active from 1388 until his death. In 2002 works formerly attributed to an obscure painter…
![Madonna of Humility, The Blessing Christ, Two Angels, and a Donor [obverse], by Andrea di Bartolo](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/andrea-di-bartolo--madonna-of-humility-the-blessing-christ-two-angels-and-a-don--d37c382429905539-w320.webp)