This calligrapher or writer was made in Amsterdam in 1747 by Arnoldus van Geffen.
In the days when many people did not (sufficiently) master the art of writing, a calligrapher or writer was commissioned to write all kinds of writings: announcements, deeds, petitions, agreements, in short, anything that people liked to see written down.
When trade expanded in the sixteenth century, there was an increasing need for the written word. In the cities writing masters settled who could be entrusted with the writing of letters and documents and who also gave writing lessons. Different letters were written in different countries in Europe and the writers had to master all these types of writing. Dutch merchants received letters from all parts of Europe. Calligraphe was used for writings that required a fine appearance such as official charters, business letters and petitions.