BEAUTIFUL OLD? PORTRAIT PAINTING OF LITTLE BOY SIGNED DAVID MILLS

I've had this painting for a while; I have so many I forgot about it until today when someone looking through a stack asked me about it.
It's signed David Mills; it reminds me of a chain of photography studios I kinda remember as a kid. I think they were in Sears stores?
Does anyone know of the artist? Do you think it was a portrait done of a real child or just a painting of a cute as heck, elf/leprechaun picture inside the artist's head?! Even his clothes look ...Victorian era, right? But the painting isn't that old is it?
I appreciate any thoughts?
Thanks again!

 

Oops Mills, not Miller - sorry

 

I was able to edit Miller to Mills - thank you

 

The clothing appears to be Regency which is pre-Victorian. (The painting does not appear -- to my eye -- to be that old.)

Debora

 

That was Olan Mills that was in Sears. Charming picture,I get a 1960s feel.

 

I didn't see a signature to compare, but wonder if this might be the same artist?

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/YXn1d

 

It reminds me of the 1950s-60s paintings of street children by Bruno Amadio aka Bragolin.
Bragolin had been kicked out of the Art Academy, and became a fascist propaganda painter.
After WWII he couldn't find a job. According to one version of the story he became one of the many painters on San Marco square in Venice, where he sold paintings of local children, many with a tear in their eye. According to another version he moved to fascist Spain, where he painted children from a local orphanage.
In both stories tourists loved the paintings, which found their way all over the world.

 

My first impression is: fairly recent, but Murillo-esque. Staples holding the canvas and no corner wedges? Very unlikely to be re-stretched.

 

There's a web site dedicated to Bragolin. It includes works by his imitators which include Dallas-Simpson. She may be the originator of your painting.

http://bragolin.weebly.com/other-artists--imitators.html

Debora

 

Not sure I understand - did either sign their works David Mills?

 

Dallas-Simpson used a number of different pseudonyms for her work. And one of her works, a painting of a young boy (included in above link,) looks very much like yours.

http://www.itssolastcentury.co.uk/lounge/Art_Gallery/Audrey_Dallas-Simpson.php

Debora

 

This one right?!

 

That one, right!

Debora

 

I don't think there's sufficient stylistic similarity for an attribution. One problem is that one portrait of a little boy looks much like another. The main difference between this and those others is the costume. I do think this one is harkening back to the Baroque.

 

Your painting of the young boy is a reproduction of a piece painted by Jean-Baptiste Greuze called: Le Petit Boudeur. It is an oil on canvas. It was painted in the 18th century. I own a similar reoroductuon painted and signed by Villon. Here is a relevant link:
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-4640132