Barrington Tobin | Retrospective

Barington Tobin's compositions in oil on canvas, panel and paper have beguiled, entranced, surprised and yes, from time to time, confounded us at Eames Fine Art for nearly a decade. Each offering, whether unveiled fresh from his studio or liberated from his archive, places us at the threshold of uncharted territory where new routes to understanding need to be plotted. A grasp of his paintings can sometimes unfold slowly (and they are all more enjoyable for it) but while meaning can be gratifyingly elusive, Barrington always allows us the sheer enjoyment of formal elements: sumptuous texture, lyrical colour, harmony and balance of composition. An artist that remains so consistently exciting is to be cherished.

The opportunity to take stock and survey the path that Barrington has taken over the last thirty years is to be grasped with relish. To do so in the company of as perceptive and sure a guide as Frances Spalding serves to enrich the experience and sharpen the appetite for Barrington's work still further. We are grateful to Frances and the Arts Committee for this elegantly curated retrospective in the handsome surroundings of Clare Hall. It is a distinguished endorsement indeed and we congratulate Barrington on the signal achievement that this retrospective exhibition represents.

- Vincent Eames, September 2019