I'm trying to find a movie the story of which involves a painter who thinks he copied a painting from one that hung in a house in his past. When he goes to find the painting he finds that it's just a frame around a stain on the wall and he didn't really copy anything.

Sounds like The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037988/)

Not even close but thanks for trying, no this was in color and made no earlier than the 70's
Sounds like The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945) (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037988/)