100 Heroes: Walter Pater
The gay man who became an influential advocate of aestheticism.
Walter Pater was an English essayist, art and literary critic, and fiction writer, regarded as one of the great stylists. His work outlined his approach to art and advocated an ideal of the intense inner life. He was seen by many as an advocate of aestheticism.
Early life
Born in Stepney in London's East End, Walter attended Enfield Grammar School and was individually tutored by the headmaster.
In 1858, he went to Queen's College, Oxford.
After graduating, Pater remained in Oxford and taught Classics and Philosophy to private students.
Career and writings
Pater became acutely interested in art and literature, and started to write articles and criticism.
The men
In 1874, Pater was in line for an important academic appointment but this was withdrawn at the last moment when it emerged that he'd had an affair with 19-year-old William Money Hardinge. Hardinge had a reputation as a homosexual who had sex with a lot of men. Private letters from Pater to Hardinge confirmed their relationship.
Many of Pater's works focus on male beauty, friendship and love, either in a Platonic way or, obliquely, in a more physical way.
Death
Pater died in 1894 at the age of 54. The cause of death was heart failure brought on by rheumatic fever.