H. P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) has an enduring influence on Gothic culture across media, and his vision is regarded usually as one of deep pessimism. In his fiction, he reveals the horrifying truth of the insignificance of humanity in the context of an indifferent cosmos. However, Lovecraft was also a committed aesthete, and found profound solace in the appreciation of art, architecture, and literature. This essay explores the relationship of his philosophy and writing to this aestheticism, and especially the influence of Walter Pater on the consolations of art, and its role in creating meaning in the face of a meaningless universe.