Animal calligraphy 

In the seventeenth century, works of art were created in the Netherlands not only with paint, but also with pen and ink. An example of this is animal calligraphy. Writing masters such as Felix van Sambix and Maria Strick created impressive works, but many student calligraphers were quite skilled too. These animals are used to practice pen curls, to loosen the wrist and of course to showcase the artistry of the calligrapher.