Sir, - Question Number 11 (Section II - European Art) of this year's Leaving Certificate (Higher Level) History and Appreciation of Art Examination refers to El Greco as a Baroque painter. A colour reproduction of El Greco's painting of St Francis receiving the Stigmata (National Gallery of Ireland) is provided to assist candidates in answering the question.
El Greco was not a Baroque painter. He was a Mannerist painter. This appalling error brings the credibility and integrity of the examination into question.
Question 14 (Section II - European Art) Ordinary Level - instructed candidates to refer to an accompanying illustration of a work by Paul Gauguin. There was no illustration so the question could not be attempted. Imagine the disappointment and frustration experienced by hundreds of young people who had worked diligently and visited the National Gallery to study these works first-hand in preparation for the examination. These errors, together with incorrect exam times, limitation of choice, absence of dates and information on illustrations, and the obscurity and non-relevance of many of the questions raise serious issues.
What steps will the Department of Education and Science take to ensure that similar blunders will not occur again? Will appropriate allowances be made in the marking of this year's examination?
Under the circumstances it is necessary and interesting to recall and note that Veronese and Tintoretto (both Mannerists) were listed as Baroque artists in the guidelines for examiners in the Leaving Certificate art marking scheme issued to all second-level schools in 1996. The Department of Education was informed of this serious blunder to the highest level at that time. However, no reference guideline or correction was made in connection with this in the chief examiner's report for Leaving Certificate Art issued also to all schools in 1996.
Serious flaws such as these place candidates at a serious disadvantage and damage is caused to the integrity of the examination. They also undermine the status of art in the schools. - Yours, etc.,
Maurice Meade, Athc, Art teacher, Kevinsfort, Sligo.