Ulla von Höpken
Ulla von Höpken | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ulrika Eleonora von Fersen 1749 Sweden |
| Died | 1810 Sweden |
| Nationality | Swedish |
| Other names | Ulla von Fersen, Ulla von Wright |
| Occupation | lady in waiting |
| Known for | being one of "The tree graces", for her love life, and as a source of inspiration in culture and litterature |
Ulla (Ulrika Eleonora) von Höpken, later von Wright, née von Fersen (1749-1810), was a Swedish lady-in-waiting and noble. She was a leading socialite of the Gustavian age, known in history as one of "The Three Graces" alongside her sister Augusta von Fersen and Lovisa Meijerfeldt, which inspired the poem of Johan Henric Kellgren; »Gracernas döpelse». She is one of the most well known profiles of the Gustavian age.
Biography
Ulrika Eleonora von Fersen was the daughter of the noble royal Crown Forester Carl Reinhold von Fersen and Charlotta Sparre and cousin of count Axel von Fersen the Younger, granddaughter of Hans von Fersen, niece of Axel von Fersen the Elder. Her father, the brother of the Caps (party) leader, was known as "one of the most elegant and spirited gentlemen of his time", and her mother made a success at the French royal court of Versailles as a great beauty when she accompanied her relative, the spouse of the Swedish ambassador Carl Gustaf Tessin, to France (1739-42). Ulla was early introduced to court were she made a success with her beauty and charm. Prince Frederick Adolf of Sweden fell in love with her and wished to marry her. Reportedly, she regarded this only as a flattering amusement, but the couple did exchange rings and Frederick gave her presents. Her family, however, was convinced that a royal marriage would be a mistake.
To avoid a royal match, her family arranged a marriage with Baron Nils von Höpken (1750-1780), cavalry captain of the Scanian cavalry, a man described as a great beauty who was almost ruined by gambling and spending. Prince Frederick later proposed to her cousin, Sophie Piper. Ulla and Höpken was married in 1770. Initally, the marriage was very happy and passionate : it was said that they did not care of economic problems as long as they had a bed, and they were described as Amor and Psyche. In 1773, they separated after her spouse abused her out of jealousy, and after this, they lived separate lifes; he spent his time drinking and gambling, and she in "pleasing others".
She returned to court, were was appointed lady-in-waiting to Queen Sophia Magdalena. She became one of the three leading socialites known as "The Three Graces" alongside Augusta von Fersen and Lovisa Meijerfeldt, expressed by Johan Henric Kellgren in the poem »Gracernas döpelse».
Ulla was used as the model of the naked Venus sculptured by Johan Tobias Sergel, Venus aux belles fesses (1779): King Gustav III wished to have a statue of Venus oposite his statue of Apollo in his salon, and "as a compliment to our lady in waitings", the statue of Venus was sculptured after the lady in waiting Ulla von Höpken. The statue was later placed in Nationalmuseum.
In 1789, she left the court in protest when the king arrested her uncle. She married her "faithfull admirer" colonel Georg von Wright (dead 1800) in 1797. She spent her last years with her sisters and became appreciated for her charity, kindness and "the reffinement, primarily recognized in the people formed by the court of Gustav III".
In culture
Ulla is the subject of the novel Venus i rokoko (English: Roccoco Venus) by Ole Söderström. She has been suggested as Bellman's character Ulla Winblad "in an aristocratic version".
See also
References
- Ingvar Andersson: Gustavianskt (1979)
- Carl Rimberg: Svenska Folkets underbara öden VII. Gustav III:s och Gustav IV Adolfs tid 1756-1792
- Carl Forsstrand (in Swedish): De tre gracerna, minnen och anteckningar från Gustaf III:s Stockholm ("The three graces, memories and notes from the Stockholm of Gustav III") Hugo Gebers förlag (1912)