The Master and His Apprentices: Art History from a Christian Perspective is the FIRST biblically-based art history textbook spanning Creation through the Baroque period!

TMAHA textbook is available in both hardcover and digital editions.

While TMAHA contains college-level material, the curriculum was initially written for advanced homeschool and private school students (due to the author’s teaching background).

However, without even marketing to colleges and universities, Christian professors worldwide are finding out about TMAHA and using it in their classrooms, whether as lecture material or the student textbook.

Why? Because The Master and His Apprentices is revolutionizing the teaching of art history from a Christian perspective with its emphasis on God as THE Master artist.

Instead of beginning with the usual “Prehistoric Period,” TMAHA begins with Creation and God’s omnificence (all-creative power) as the building blocks that later artists imitate. Furthermore, the textbook is laid out in a reader-friendly format with clear two-page content spreads and a wealth of supplementary material. Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions can be found below.

The textbook contains over 600 images in addition to timelines, charts, maps and other visual elements.

What periods does TMAHA cover?

The textbook covers all of the ancient and classical Western art periods found in the typical Janson’s, Gardner’s or Stokstad-type textbook but with a biblical backdrop, timelining art and artists against people and events of the Bible and the first-century church.

Moving forward, Western art from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque periods are also covered in-depth, but with a refreshing biblical worldview instead of the humanist focus found in traditional art history textbooks.

Finally, post-Baroque, modern, contemporary and non-Western periods are briefly summarized. This rounds out the material and provides a springboard for further student research and studies.

Which courses can I use TMAHA with?

TMAHA can complement broader humanities survey courses; however, it is most often used as the key source for art appreciation electives and core Western art history courses (both one and two-semester classes). TMAHA will NOT satisfy the material needed for strictly non-Western or modern/contemporary art courses.

The teacher guide includes additional content not found in the textbook, including discussion questions and written exercises.

Is expanding and customizing a course possible (with or without the optional Teacher Guide)?

The optional teacher guide provides a wealth of discussion questions and exam content (all with answers provided). This streamlines the “foundation” and leaves professors time for developing “additional highlights” based on personal preference. In fact, TMAHA’s teacher guide encourages student-led exploration. Each student writes four papers on artists or individual pieces of their choosing (not included in the textbook). Students can then present their research findings in class to broaden awareness of additional artists and styles.

TMAHA is unique in that it does not include any nudity (again, college-level material written for high schoolers). Nevertheless, as a college class often has more time available and a more mature audience, these can easily be inserted. Many professors find however that there are relatively few works they desire to supplement with. Often these include Donatello and/or Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Durer’s Adam and Eve.

Furthermore, many professors realize that courses with enough time to cover additional post-Baroque works are a great way to engage students in worldview discussions. For instance, professors may use TMAHA to form an art history “framework” up through the Renaissance. Then, students can build on this foundation by focusing their research papers on later modern and contemporary periods. This allows for personalized expansion of TMAHA’s more limited emphasis on post-Baroque works.

Essentially, TMAHA is customizable in innumerable ways, whether or not a professor chooses to use the companion teacher guide.

Where can we purchase TMAHA? Are bulk discounts available?

We realize that most colleges will want to make the textbook (whether physical or digital) available through the campus bookstore. Currently, the physical textbooks receive a discount through INGRAM for schools with accounts there. Otherwise, campus bookstore discounts (for both physical and digital versions) are available directly through TheMasterAndHisApprentices.com. Please use our contact form for questions or bulk discount inquiries.