Still life with carnations, a bird's nest, and other flowers and insects on a marble ledge, oil on copper, 9 x 11-1/2 in., with faint inscription in upper left corner, '...fecit Huysum [?]...', the verso with chalk inscription 'N2' and faint inscription 'Duke of Bedford [?] / Van [Huy]sum'

The present work appears to be a preparatory study for the still life sold at Sotheby's, London, on 3 December 2014 (lot 5). The composition is nearly identical to the lower half portion of above-mentioned, with the same bee on the ledge at lower left, bird's nest at lower right, cluster of four carnations to the left, and upturned leaf at upper right.

[a few areas of flaking mostly around the red flower at center-right, where it has been partially in-painted; UV reveals a few retouches: two to top-most stem above central white flower (the larger being appx. 1/2-in.), a small retouch to the left of the central reddish-yellow flower, and a few touches to the leaves to the left of the central white flower]