John Baptist Medina: A Scottish Portraitist Bridging Worlds Born around January 1, 1659, in Brussels – a city steeped in Flemish artistic tradition – John Baptiste Medina’s life and career represent a fascinating confluence of cultures and influences. His origins, rooted in Spanish military service within the Habsburg realm, ultimately led him to establish himself as one of England's most prominent portrait painters during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Medina wasn’t merely a painter; he was an interpreter of identity, skillfully blending Baroque techniques with a distinctly Englis…