The Automaton is based on a story told to Paolo Ventura as a child. It centers on an elderly Jewish watchmaker living in the Venice ghetto in 1943, one of the darkest periods of Nazi occupation and the rule of the fascist regime in Italy. The city, desolate and fearful, is the stage on which the story unfolds. The old man decides to build an automaton (a robot), to keep him company while he awaits the arrival of the fascist police. Paolo Ventura is internationally known for the complex creative process he adopts. His meticulous miniature renderings create a fascinating narrative.