The Annunciation . . .

. . . was a common theme, especially in the art of the early Quattrocento.  Here we see Ghiberti's effort, part of the North Doors of the Baptistry.  Ghiberti won the contest in which he was pitted against Brunelleschi, among others, for the privilege of creating these doors, of which there are 28 quatrefoil designs.  He worked on these gilded bronze reliefs from 1404 until 1424.  Ghiberti's later doors, on the east side of the Baptistry, were called "the Gates of Paradise" by Michaelangelo.  I have to wonder if baby Lorenzo was carried in through one of these set of doors for his baptism, which would have occurred, according to custom, very soon after his birth.