The Annunciation by Giovanni di Balduccio is a pair of finely carved marble sculptures depicting the moment that the archangel Gabriel announces to Mary at Nazareth that she will become the mother of Jesus Christ. The two separate figures stand in relationship to each other. Gabriel, slightly smaller than Mary, looks at her with his head turned slightly to his left. Mary, seemingly surprised, returns his gaze.

“These are stupendous sculptures of the highest quality created by one of the most important Italian Gothic sculptors for a prestigious papal chapel,” said Anne-Lise Desmas, senior curator of sculpture and decorative arts at the Getty Museum.