Details of Sculptor

Surname

Seest

Alternative Surname

First Name

Christian Carlsen

Initial of Surname

S

Year of Birth/Baptism

Flourished

1734-1757

Year of Death

by 1771

Biographical Details

When he left his native Denmark in 1734, he was described on his passport as ‘sculptor-apprentice’. He travelled to Germany, Holland and other countries and was in Paris in 1742. It is not clear when he first came to England, but he made his second visit at Michaelmas 1750, when he modelled a bust of George Vertue (1), and worked as assistant to L F Roubiliac. Vertue wrote: ‘a bust, a modell done of my own portrait, a head only, by one who was workman to Mr. Rubilliac. This man came from Denmark and had been some years in ~ and Holland, but first in England and lately has returned to England again. Now constantly works for Mr. Rubilliac, his name is Siste. He is an ingenious man, draws very well and modells in good manner and taste’ (Vertue III, 154). Seest married Ann Brandreth in December 1750 at St Anne, Soho, Westminster, and their child, Christian Charles Siste, was christened on 25 May 1752 at St Martin-in-the-Fields. Seest worked under Roubiliac on the statue of Sir Isaac Newton for Trinity College, Cambridge.
On 16 September 1748 he was appointed Danish court sculptor, a post he held until 1768. From London he had sent drawings for monuments, etc., to the Danish King, Frederick V, and a bust of that monarch, which is probably his work, is at Ledreborg Castle. He was dead by June 1771, when ‘Anne Siest widow of Christn Seest, Sculptor’ was donated 8 guineas by the Royal Academy on the recommendation of G M Moser. She continued to receive aid from the Academy of sums varying between 3 and 4 guineas, nearly every year until 1797, when she probably died.
Literary References: Weilbach 1897, II; Gunnis 1968, 347
Archival References: IGI; RA Council Minutes, vol 1, fols 108, 136, 159, 180, 203, 136, 258, 273, 287, 305, 330, 345, 361; vol 2, fols 10, 29, 41, 61, 83, 108, 142, 182, 228, 228, 273, 325