Walter Pater
Biography
Walter Horatio Pater (1839–1894) was an English essayist, literary and art critic, and novelist, one of the most influential figures in the Aesthetic movement. Born in Shadwell, London, he spent most of his career as a fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford. Pater’s Studies in the History of the Renaissance (1873) became the manifesto of Aestheticism, with its famous conclusion urging readers to burn with a “hard, gem-like flame.” His philosophical novel Marius the Epicurean (1885) explores the spiritual journey of a young Roman through competing philosophies. Pater’s ornate, sensuous prose influenced Oscar Wilde, W. B. Yeats, and the entire Aesthetic movement.
Common themes in Walter Pater's work
Aestheticism
A recurring theme throughout Walter Pater's writing.
Art criticism
A recurring theme throughout Walter Pater's writing.
Beauty and experience
A recurring theme throughout Walter Pater's writing.
Victorian culture
A recurring theme throughout Walter Pater's writing.
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Why Walter Pater is still read today
Pater’s influence on the Aesthetic movement and on modernist ideas about art, beauty, and experience makes him essential to understanding late Victorian and early modern culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Walter Pater?
Walter Pater was an English critic and novelist, the intellectual father of the Aesthetic movement. Read his works free on TextStack.
What is Pater best known for?
Studies in the History of the Renaissance (1873) and his novel Marius the Epicurean (1885), both central works of Aestheticism.
Who did Pater influence?
Oscar Wilde, W. B. Yeats, and the entire Aesthetic movement were profoundly influenced by his ideas about art and beauty.
Where can I read Walter Pater online?
TextStack offers Marius the Epicurean free to read online.
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