[2] The film describes Boy with Apple as a priceless Renaissance work inherited by Ralph Fiennes' character of Gustave H. as part of the inciting incident.

British artist Michael Taylor painted Boy with Apple in 2012 for use in the then-upcoming film The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Taylor was contacted by director Wes Anderson, who requested a faux Renaissance-era portrait that would evoke imagery from European art history.

[4][5] Due to the painting's role as a film prop, which required that Boy with Apple be carryable under an actor's arm, Taylor was forced to work on a smaller canvas than he was used to.

Gustave takes the painting for himself before the main legal proceedings, commenting on its sentimental value and claiming resemblance to the boy, but plans to sell it on the black market, stating even a 1.5% share for his assistant Zero could set someone for life.