Death playing chess

Death playing chess is a mural in Täby Church, Sweden, painted by Albertus Pictor in the late 15th century. The scene shows a living person playing chess against a skeletal Death, with faded hues from natural pigments applied directly onto lime plaster.

Albertus Pictor completed the work during the 1480s, a period when Swedish churches received numerous wall paintings with moral themes. The depiction followed a medieval motif showing the triumph of death over earthly cleverness.

The painting reflects medieval European perspectives on mortality through the metaphor of chess, a game associated with strategy and intellectual pursuit.

The painting is located on a church wall in Täby north of Stockholm and can be viewed during the church's open hours. The Swedish Museum of History in Stockholm displays a detailed reproduction accessible during poor travel weather.

A now-faded Swedish inscription above the players originally read 'Jak spelar tik matt', which translates as 'I checkmate thee'. The wording followed early Swedish orthography that predated modern spelling reforms.

Inception: 1480

Creator: Albertus Pictor

GPS coordinates: 59.49083,18.05667

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:28