Johan Tobias Sergel, before the nobility 1808 Sergell, born August 28, 1740 in Stockholm, died February 26, 1814 in Stockholm, was a Swedish sculptor, painter and draftsman. He was the ancestor of the Sergel family, father of Gustaf Sergel and great-grandfather of Birger Sergel.

 

Biography

Johan Tobias Sergel was the son of the German artist couple Christoffer Sergell and Elisabet Swyrner, who moved to Sweden the year before the son was born. The father was court brother, as were his sisters, the sisters Anna Sibylla Sergell (another version of the name is Anna Brita Sergell) and Maria Sofia Sergell. Sergel's talents were discovered early and he was taught by Jean Eric Rehn and Jacques Adrien Masreliez. In 1757 he began as a pupil of Pierre Hubert L'Archevêque, summoned from France, who modeled the statue of Gustav II Adolf, Stockholm. He also assisted him in the execution of two statues for the royal palace. Another important event in his early development was his meeting with the engraver Per Floding, who introduced him to the Neoantique style. Study trip to France and Italy At the age of nineteen, Sergel received a fixed salary at the Royal Palace Construction State, and two years later he received the Drawing Academy's large gold medal. In 1767, with a travel allowance of 3,000 silver coins, he was able to make a study trip to Paris, Rome and Naples. For a year he immersed himself in the ancient works of art, a year during which he himself produced nothing. Sculptures inspired by his stay abroad include the Water Nymph (his first independent work), Resting Faun and Dying Otryades. Louis XV of France commissioned the sculpture Cupid and Psyche from him, but the king died while the work was only half finished. It was then bought instead by Gustav III, who had become increasingly interested in the promising artist.

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Work in Stockholm

After twelve years abroad, he was called to Sweden by Gustav III. Somewhat reluctantly, he traveled to Stockholm – he had just been elected a member of the French Academy of Fine Arts – and was appointed royal sculptor. He had also been offered by Catherine II to settle in Russia, but declined the offer. Cupid and Psyche were now finished sculpting. In 1780 he became a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts and in 1782 a knight of the Vasa Order. Despite the great successes and many amorous adventures, Sergel was sometimes melancholic and occasionally struggled with suicidal plans.

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A decisive change in his life occurred when in 1783 he met the innkeeper Anna-Rella Hellström. She became his mistress, and he depicted their love encounters in several humorous and strongly erotic drawings, but also in heartfelt depictions of family life. After a trip with Gustav III, Sergel and Anna Rella moved into a studio apartment in the later Sergelhuset* in the Beridarebanan block south of Hötorget in Stockholm. Anna Rella gave birth to four children, two of whom survived. The time with her and the children was the happiest time of his life. The years were not many: she died as early as 1796. During the last eighteen years of his life, he became both court inspector and ennobled. His grave is in Adolf Fredrik's cemetery in Stockholm.

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* The Sergelhuset (also called Bildhuggarbostället or Royal Statue Sculptor's Residence) was a building in the Beridarebanan block on Sergelgatan 1 at Hötorget in central Stockholm. History The building was originally a foundry, and from 1786 housed the studio of the sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel (1740-1814). After Sergel, Carl Fredrik von Breda moved in, but already in 1816 he was forced to make way for Johan Niclas Byström. During the first years of the 20th century, the building housed a studio and possibly a residence for the sculptor and professor at the Academy of Arts John Börjeson (1832-1910). During the 20th century, the building also served as premises for the Graphic Society and the Academy of Arts from 1914. In 1926, the Academy of Arts received increased premises in the Sergelhuset for the decorative school, for teaching material theory, anatomy and perspective. The building was demolished in 1953 amid loud protests from cultural figures to make way for the new Hötorgscity which was built in connection with the Norrmalm regulation. In 1885, the street where the building was located was renamed to the current name Sergelgatan. Today Göran Strååt's statue of Sergel can be found on Sergelgatan in the place where his studio was located.

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