Painting ID Help

I picked up this oil on board painting several years ago. The painting measures 8” x 10” and appears to be pretty well done. Unfortunately, I can’t find a signature on the painting. I’m guessing late 19th C but would welcome some additional thoughts.

 

Lovely painting !! .. Joy.

 

Sweet. Unlikely you'll ever be able to determine artist. And I'd think mid-Victorian (Civil War-ish) rather than late. He appears to be wearing a bolero jacket.

Debora

 

My first two thoughts (and that's all for now) are "Pennsylvania Dutch [German]" child or maybe a "Pennsylvania Quaker (religion)" child.

 

Sweet painting! I fiddled a bit with it and while it might be nothing, it almost looks like there might be something in the very bottom right just below that light mark. Actually sort of looks like S$34. But I'm probably just seeing things.

 

This painting is fabulous! What a serious little boy!
It was painted with a lot of emotion and feeling. I love it.

 

I will have to play around with it a bit to see if I can pull something out of it. Here is another photograph of that area.

 

Not so much now so probably just seeing nothing.

 

What good eyes! Removing from frame might reveal.

Debora

 

mmmm ...tiny hands ....who does that remind me of? ......hmmmmm

 

Is this what you’re referring to. Looks like LARB

 

Now look what you've done, you've ruined it! Poor boy.

 

I think it's Italian. But that is only a guess. Based on 1. Sad expression, 2. Mediterranean features (think Napoleon as a child, he was born in Corsica, i e, Italian), 3. Dark suit (alright, so black was common on children in the 19th century, their clothes restyled to their sizes from grownups' castoffs), 4. tiny folded hands a la Mona Lisa, 5. cut on collar and jacket very early Italian, mid-19th to early 20th century.

Of course he could be from Brooklyn too.