Background
She was the daughter of royal counselor and marschal count Erik Sparre af Sundby and Stina Lillie.
She was the daughter of royal counselor and marschal count Erik Sparre af Sundby and Stina Lillie.
She accompanied her spouse on his diplomatic assignments to Vienna (1735-1736), Copenhagen and Paris (1739-1741) and Berlin (1744). She is described as a talented artist and a skillful socialite, was admired for her character, and skillfully created valuable social contacts during the diplomatic stays abroad. In the 1730s, the couple participated in the amateur theatres in Stockholm which played an important part in creating an interest for the foundation of the first Swedish language national theatre in Bollhuset (1737).
In 1732, Dom Japhlet d"Arménie by Scarron was performed by a noble amateur theatre at Bollhuset, directed by the Tessin couple, who also participated as actors.
Ulla Tessin was a confidante of the crown princess, Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, and when Louisa Ulrika became queen in 1751, Tessin was appointed her head lady-in-waiting. Ulla Tessin was a Dame of the L’Ordre de l’Harmonie.
