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Gregor Mendel with Cross

Unknown

A later photograph of Mendel wearing the pectoral cross of an abbot, the administrative role that ended his scientific research.

This photograph shows Mendel as abbot, the role that ended his scientific career, wearing the cross of his office.

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Black and white studio portrait of a man with short, wavy hair and thin round wire-rimmed glasses, wearing a dark clerical cassock buttoned to the neck with a white collar. A long chain with a cross pendant hangs on his chest. He faces left against a plain grey background.
Unknown photographer, Gregor Mendel with cross, undated.

About this source

What it is

This black-and-white studio portrait shows Gregor Mendel wearing a dark clerical cassock and a long chain with a cross pendant, marking his position as abbot.

Why it matters

Mendel was eventually elected abbot of his monastery, a demanding administrative position that took up most of his time and effectively ended his scientific experiments. This photograph shows him in that later role, a reminder that his life was not only about science but also about his duties within the church.

Look closer

  • How does this portrait differ from earlier photographs of Mendel as a younger friar?
  • What does the cross he wears tell you about his position?
  • Why might taking on an administrative role have changed what Mendel could achieve scientifically?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Gregor Mendel on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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Scan of the first text page of Gregor Mendel's 'Versuche über Pflanzen-Hybriden', with the title, author name, presentation date note, and the opening section 'Einleitende Bemerkungen' in German black-letter-style print on aged paper.Book

Primary source

Versuche über Pflanzen-Hybriden

Gregor Mendel · 1866 (read 1865)

Black-and-white portrait of a man with short wavy hair, wire-rimmed spectacles, and a dark high-collared coat with a white clerical collar, facing the camera against a white background.Photograph

Primary source

Gregor Mendel

Unknown

Black-and-white group photograph of ten monks in long dark robes posed together, with a caption below naming them, including Gregor Mendel, and the title 'Plate III. Gregor Johann Mendel among his Fellow-Monks'.Photograph

Primary source

Mendel with other monks

Unknown

Black-and-white photograph of a long, low wooden building with a corrugated metal roof and a row of small-paned windows, partly overgrown with shrubs and climbing plants. A brick base is visible at right. A printed caption at the bottom reads: Abb. 16 Mendels Bienenstock im Altbrünner Klostergarten.Photograph

Primary source

Mendel's Beehouse

Unknown · before 1909

Black handwritten cursive signature on white background, reading 'Gregor Mendel' with a smaller abbreviated mark ('Ohh' or similar) written beneath it.Document

Primary source

Signature of Gregor Mendel

Gregor Mendel

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