The monument, a small stele flanked by stone walls bearing an inscription plaque and portrait medallion, was unveiled 'to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of the brilliant composer' (as the inscription on the plaque states).

The author of the relief is Karl Otahal, a Czech sculptor from Velké Opatovice, who settled there after the Second World War and was educated in Rome and Paris. He specialised in portrait sculpture and was the author of several statues of famous Czechs, including J.A. Komensky.

Chopin met his parents in Marienbad in 1835; a year later he visited the Wodziński family there. The composer's beloved, Maria Wodzińska, painted a watercolour portrait of him at the time. Chopin's stays in Marianske Lazne are also commemorated by plaques in the hotel Pod Białym Łabędziem, where he lived (now Chopin dum, 47 Hlavni Strida St., housing the Chopin museum since 1960): unveiled at the entrance to the building in 1957, by Antoni Kuchar; and older plaques from the early 20th century in Polish and French. The city is home to one of the most important Chopin festivals, held since 1959.