In an opulent moment suspended in time, this captivating painting captures a cultivated display of aesthetic and social refinement. Beneath a richly decorated canopy, the nobleman reclines in composed luxury, leisurely drawing from a hookah as two nautch girls perform with poised elegance. Their movements, choreographed to the rhythms of accompanying musicians, animate the air with an almost hypnotic charm. Around them, courtiers draped in sumptuous Kashmiri shawls sit cross-legged, their rapt attention underscoring the cultural significance of such courtly performances. Created during the height of the Company Painting tradition, this work reflects the fusion of Indian artistic mastery with the aesthetic demands of European patrons—particularly British officials of the East India Company. Attributed to the accomplished Patna artist Siva Lal, the painting exemplifies the refined narrative detail and atmospheric depth for which the Patna School was celebrated. Comparable paintings, echoing this theatrical elegance and compositional sophistication, are held in major international collections, reinforcing the enduring appeal and global recognition of such masterful depictions of Indian courtly life. A notable example is housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (Image ID: 2006BF8065), while another significant work resides in the British Museum (Museum number: 1989,0415,0.1). Additionally, the Indian Museum, Kolkata, safeguards similar works.