Primary sourcePhotograph

Mendel with other monks

Unknown

A group photograph of the friars of St Thomas's Abbey in Brno, including Gregor Mendel, the monastic community that supported his education and research.

Mendel appears among his fellow monks in this group portrait of the abbey community that supported his scientific work.

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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'. — Unknown photographer, Mendel with other monks, Plate III, 'Gregor Johann Mendel among his Fellow-Monks'.

About this source

What it is

This photograph shows ten monks of St Thomas's Abbey posed together in their long dark robes, with a caption identifying the group and naming Gregor Mendel among them.

Why it matters

Mendel lived as an Augustinian friar at this abbey, which gave him the time, education, and garden space to carry out his plant-breeding experiments. This photograph is a reminder that his scientific work grew out of a religious community, not a university laboratory.

Look closer

Can you pick out which figure might be Mendel from the caption and group arrangement?
Why might a monastery have been a good place for this kind of long-term experiment?
What does the group portrait suggest about the relationships between the monks?

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.