The canvas represents the king Juan I of Castile (1358-1390). He was the son of King Henry II of Castile and Queen Juana Manuel de Villena, daughter of the famous Don Juan Manuel. He tried spoderarse the kingdom of Portugal but was overwhelmingly defeated in the battle of Aljubarrota, fought in 1385. He died in 1390 in Alcala de Henares, at 32 years of age and was succeeded on the throne by his son, Henry III of Castile.