Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Shute, John (fl.1550-1570)
SHUTE, JOHN (fl. 1550–1570), architect and limner, published in 1563 a work entitled ‘The First and Chief Groundes of Architecture, used in all the Auncient and Famous Monyments, with a farther and more ample Discourse upon the same, than hitherto hath been set out by any other,’ with a dedication to Queen Elizabeth (cf. Arber, Transcript, i. 210). In the introduction to this work Shute describes himself as ‘painter and architect,’ and says that he had been in the service of John Dudley, duke of Northumberland, who had sent him to Italy in 1550, and maintained him in his studies under the best architects. That Shute was also a limner or miniature-painter of repute is shown by Heydock in his translation of Lomazzo's ‘Art of Painting’ (1598), where it is stated that ‘limning, much used in former times in church-books, as also in drawing by the life in small models, of late years by some of our countrymen as Shoote, Betts, &c., but brought to the rare perfection we have seen, by the most ingenious, painful, and skilful master Nicholas Hilliard,’ &c. Although Shute was one of the earliest native artists, and held in esteem by his contemporaries, no work of his can be authenticated.
[Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting; authorities mentioned in the text.]