Helsted was born in
Copenhagen, Denmark. He was the son of the painter
Frederik Ferdinand Helsted. He studied at the
Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, completing his course of study in 1866. In 1869, he traveled to
Paris. From 1874, he and his wife stayed in Italy. Helsted made a journey to the
Netherlands and
Belgium in 1890. In 1887, Helsted became a member of the Royal Academy, in 1892 he received the title of professor. Helsted exhibited at the
Charlottenborg Spring Exhibition between 1865 and 1907; he also had various exhibitions at
Paris,
Vienna and
Munich. He painted the altarpiece of the
Church of Christ in Copenhagen.{{cite web|url=https://www.kulturarv.dk/kid/VisKunstner.do?kunstnerId=423&wsektion=alle |title= Axel Helsted ==References==