Translation of words on painting?

[dav1dr0well]

I believe this is Chinese (but I could be mistaken). Could anyone take a crack at translating this?

Thanks to all,

David

[skylee]

It is Chinese. The vetical line on the right is the title of the Minister for Foreign Affairs appointed by the monarch of Great Britian. The minister was a marquis and his name started with syllable "sha" or similar. The vertical line on the left is the title of the envoy to Britian appointed by the emperor of the Qing Dynasty. His name started with the word 羅. The last bit at the bottom of the left line is, I think, in Manchurian, one of the official languages of the Qing Dynasty.

PS the chinese envoy was probably 羅豐祿 -> New York Times

[dav1dr0well]

Skylee:

Thanks so much for your help!

[陳德聰]

Robert Cecil was both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time.

I am fairly certain "3rd Marquess of Salisbury" is where the 沙 comes from, but I have no idea how British titles work.

[skylee]

Yes, that probably refers to Salisbury. It is part of his name. (I am watching the BBC series the White Queen, and people in the drama are sometimes called by their title, like "Warwick", sometimes their real name, like "Richard Neville". Very confusing.)

(PS - But I think perhaps this is not special. In a Chinese drama about the early years of Emperor Yongzheng, for example, he might be called by his name 胤禎, or his rank among the different princes 四阿哥/四爺, or his title 雍親王, etc.)