The Annunciation, between David and Isaiah

The Annunciation is depicted in the center under a Gothic arcature and a vault painted in blue with gold stars, which continue on the sides. In front of a prie-Dieu, with her right hand raised in surprise, the Virgin welcomes the angel Gabriel, who announces that she will give birth to the Son of God, as evoked by the dove of the Holy Spirit. Surrounding her are the prophets David on the left, holding a phylactery quoting a psalm announcing his coming, and Isaiah on the right, bearing the words of his prophecy "Behold, a Virgin shall conceive".

The theme is adapted to the triptych's vocation as a medium for private devotion.

This work is the eponymous piece by the Maître du triptyque d'Orléans: its stylistic features (figures with pronounced features, thick lips, eyelids raised with black lines and expressive gestures, underlined by hands with long fingers marked with white enamel touches), which can be found on other enamels, have made it possible to identify one of the main Limousin enamellers active between the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance, who remained anonymous. While the composition's Gothic style links it to the medieval period, the work bears witness to a major technical development that appeared in Limoges in the second half of the 15th century: painted enamel, a process that favors links with contemporary easel painting. The copper plate is covered with a layer of black enamel for the background, followed by a layer of white enamel to set the design, either by scratching with a needle before firing, or by a dark line executed on the already vitrified enamel. The various shades are placed and fired separately. After vitrification, gold highlights are added.