Conradin von Hohenstauffen (1252-1268) was taken prisoner by Charles of Anjou after losing the Battle of Tagliacozzo. Conradin was a keen player of chess, which he saw as symbolic of the fight for power.
The present painting depicts the moment when he and his cousin Friedrich were informed of their impending execution. Their reaction of irritation at the interruption of their chess game underlines their heroism and stoicism in the face of death; this was a very popular theme at the time, and was treated by a number of artists, notably Jacques-Louis David in his 'La Mort de Socrates' of 1787.

Another version is in the Schlossmuseum at Gotha (J. H. W. Tischbein, Aus meinem Leben, ed. 1956, illustrated in colour opposite p.208)