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Mendoza Province (Argentina)

Provincia de Mendoza

Last modified: 2023-08-05 by rob raeside
Keywords: mendoza | provincia de mendoza | san martín (josé) | andes | wreath | sun: rising | phrygian cap | mascapaicha | arm | hand | pole: t-shape | carrillo bascary (miguel) |
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[Province of Mendoza flag] image by Francisco Gregoric, 22 Mar 2008
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Description of the flag

The Province of Mendoza adopted the historical flag of the Army of the Andes, preserved in the “Flag Hall” of the Government House of Mendoza, as its own provincial flag. That historical flag was used in 1817 by the army commanded by General José de San Martín that crossed the Andes Mountains and Liberated Chile.

Since the Army of the Andes was organized in the Cuyo Intendancy (present day Mendoza, San Juan and San Luis Provinces), the Province of Mendoza decided that this historical national flag would be the perfect one to represent Mendoza among the Argentine provinces.

The idea of using the Andes Army flag design as a provincial flag for Mendoza was originally proposed by Dr. Miguel Carrillo Bascary in an article published in 1989, and later proposed by him to the provincial authorities of Mendoza.
Francisco Gregoric, 22 Mar 2008

The Decree No. 5930, of 1992.10.21, adopts as the Provincial Flag the flag of the Army of the Andes. By this, the legislators are saying that the new provincial flag should be exactly as the historical flag displayed in the “Flag Hall” of the Government House in the City of Mendoza, capital of the province of the same name. The flag is exhibited as a standard or banner. Two horizontal stripes of white over blue. Higher than wide, with the National Coat of Arms at its center. The regulation does not specify how to hoist the flag. Therefore we may think that the proper way should be not on regular pole but from a "T" type pole. Nothing was legislated about the right way of hoisting the flag. The law says nothing about this subject.
Gustavo Tracchia, 07 Feb 2000

The correct sizes are 122 × 144 cm, from a photo of the original flag that I took in a museum.
Fernando Bollana, 17 Jul 2004

The coat of arms in the flag is the same one of the historical Andes Army flag: it is a version of the Argentine national coat of arms with a set of mountains added on the bottom. It is different from the provincial coat of arms of Mendoza.
Francisco Gregoric, 22 Mar 2008

The flag was adopted on October 21, 1992 by law 5930 of the local legislature. However, some details of the flag as its exact colors were not defined there, so the law was modiffied by laws No. 6792 & 6961. The final text appears in Spanish and translated to English:

Flag Law

    LEY 5.930 (modificada y corregida por Leyes Nº 6.792 y 6.961)

    EL SENADO Y CAMARA DE DIPUTADOS DE LA PROVINCIA DE MENDOZA, SANCIONAN CON FUERZA DE

    L E Y:

    ARTICULO 1º- Reconócese como Bandera de la Provincia de Mendoza a la "Bandera del Ejército de los Andes", mandada a confeccionar por el General José de San Martín y que guiara a las huestes expedicionarias que llevaron la Libertad a las hermanas Repúblicas de Chile y del Perú y que también combatieron por la Libertad de la hermana República de Bolivia (*), como emblema de las virtudes heroicas del pueblo de la provincia y sin desmedro de la Bandera Argentina, símbolo de la nacionalidad y representación genuina de la Patria.

    ARTICULO 2º.-El emblema nacional no podrá ser reemplazado ni sustituido a ningún efecto.

    ARTICULO 3º.-El gobierno provincial mandará a confeccionar una bandera que sirva de modelo, que reproducirá fielmente en sus caracteres, colores y dimensiones actuales a la "Bandera del Ejército de los Andes".

    ARTICULO 4º.-La bandera de la Provincia de Mendoza deberá reunir las siguientes características:

      Medidas:
      Ancho: 1220 mm.
      Alto: 1440 mm.

      Materiales:
      Bandera de Ceremonia de la Provincia de Mendoza, deberá confeccionarse en Gross de Seda.
      La bandera de flameo de la Provincia de Mendoza, deberá confeccionarse en poliéster pesado o material de alta resistencia a las inclemencias climáticas, en ambos casos deberán ser bordadas o estampadas.

      Descripción:

      1) Referencia numérica

      Laureles inferiores: derecho exterior: 22 hojas.
            izquierdo exterior: 21 hojas.
            derecho interior: 18 hojas.
            izquierdo interior: 17 hojas.

      Laureles superiores: derecho e izquierdo exterior: 10 hojas
            derecho e izquierdo interior: 09 hojas
      Ambos rematan en 01 hoja

      Frutos:
      Del laurel derecho exterior: 06 frutos.
      Del laurel derecho interior: 08 frutos.
      Del laurel izquierdo exterior: 08 frutos
      Del laurel izquierdo interior: 09 frutos

      Rayos del sol: 32 rayos

      Ovalo que rodea el escudo: 22 lazadas.

      2)-Referencia de colores:

      Celeste del escudo, fondo de la bandera y las cintas: Pantone 310 C.
      Sol, lazo que rodea al escudo y cinta inferior del gorro: Pantone 108 C.
      Gorro Frigio: Pantone 1945 C.
      Manos entrelazadas: Pantone 1555 C.
      Laureles superiores: Pantone 361 C.
      Laureles inferiores: Pantone 575 C.
      Montaña: Pantone 4645 C.
      Pica: Pantone 4625 C.
      Frutos: Pantone 178 C.
      Cejas: Pantone 478 C.
      (Texto modificado por Art. 1, Ley 6792)

      "Distinguir a los alumnos, tanto de escuelas estatales como de gestión privada por sus logros intelectuales y personales al momento de la elección de abanderados y escoltas, con la portación de la Bandera del Ejército de los Andes, acompañando así a la Bandera Nacional de Ceremonias en todos los actos y desfiles oficiales".
      (Ultimo párrafo incorporado por Art. 1, Ley 6961)

    ARTICULO 5º.- Comuníquese al Poder Ejecutivo.

    DADA EN EL RECINTO DE SESIONES DE LA HONORABLE LEGISLATURA DE LA PROVINCIA DE MENDOZA, A LOS VEINTIUN DIAS DEL MES DE OCTUBRE DE MIL NOVECIENTOS NOVENTA Y DOS.

English translation

    LAW 5,930 (modiffied and corrected by Laws No. 6,792 & 6,961)

    THE SENATE AND THE CHAMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PROVINCE OF MENDOZA, DECREE WITH POWER OF

    L A W:

    ARTICLE No. 1.- The Flag of the Province of Mendoza will be the "Flag of the Army of the Andes", made under order of General José de San Martín that guided the expedicionary troops that delivered liberty to the sisters Republics of Chile and Perú and that also fought for the Liberty of the sister Republic of Bolivia (*), as an emblem of the heroic virtues of the people of this province without detriment to the Argentine Flag, symbol of the nationality and of the genuine representation of the Fatherland.

    ARTICLE No. 2.-The national flag will never be replaced or substituted under any circumstance.

    ARTICLE No. 3.-The provincial government will order to make a flag that will be a pattern, faithfully reproducing the characteristics, colors and present day dimensions of the "Flag of the Army of The Andes”.

    ARTICLE No. 4.-The flag of the Province of Mendoza will observe the following characteristics:

      Dimensions:
      Wide: 1220 mm.
      High: 1440 mm.

      Materials:
      [Indoors] Ceremonial Flag of the Province of Mendoza, will be made of Silk Gross.
      The outdoor flag of the Province of Mendoza will be made of heavy polyester or weather resistance material, in both cases [the flags] will be embroidered or printed.

      Description:

      1) Numeric reference

      Lower laurels leaves: Outer right: 22 leaves.
            Outer left: 21 leaves.
            Inner right: 18 leaves.
            Inner left: 17 leaves.

      Upper laurels:outer right and left: 10 leaves
            inner right and left: 09 leaves
      Both of them terminating in 01 leaf

      Fruits:
      Outer right laurel: 06 fruits.
      Inner right laurel: 08 fruits.
      Outer left laurel: 08 fruits
      Inner left laurel: 09 fruits

      Rays of the sun: 32 rays

      [Yellow border of the] oval: 22 loops.

      2)-Colors Reference:

      The sky blue of the coat of arms, the flag and ribbons: Pantone 310 C.
      Sun, ribbon rounding the arms and inner ribbon of the [Phrigian] Cap: Pantone 108 C.
      Phrigian Cap: Pantone 1945 C.
      Joint hands: Pantone 1555 C.
      Upper laurel leaves: Pantone 361 C.
      Lower laurel leaves: Pantone 575 C.
      Mountains: Pantone 4645 C.
      Spear: Pantone 4625 C.
      Fruits: Pantone 178 C.
      Eyebrows: Pantone 478 C.
      (Text modified by Art. No.1, Law 6792)

      "At the moment of choosing flag bearers and colour guards, students for their intellectual and personal achievements of State's and privates school will be rewarded as flag bearers and colour guard of the [facsimile of the] Flag of the Andes Army, escorting also the ceremonial national flag in every official ceremony and parades".
      (Last paragraph added by Art. No. 1, Law 6961)

    ARTICLE No. 5.- Executive Power to be notified.

    ISSUED AT THE CHAMBER OF DELIBERATIONS OF THE HONORABLE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE OF MENDOZE ON THE TWENTY FIRST DAY OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER OF NINETEEN NINETY TWO.

(*) Even though the text on article No.1 says that the flag guided the troops in Chile, Perú and Bolivia, the Andes Army flag just participated in the Chilean Campaign.

Law translated by Francisco Gregoric and Gus Tracchia, 22 Mar 2008.

Horizontal version

[Province of Mendoza flag, horizontally hoisted] image by Francisco Gregoric, 22 Mar 2008

The Law No. 5930 does not explain which it the right way to hoist the provincial flag of Mendoza.

For years it was believed that the historical flag of the Army of the Andes had two vertical stripes flag with the coat of arms displayed sideways. As Gus Tracchia has explained, the 1908 painting El Abrazo de Maipú (by the Chilean artist Pedro Subercaseaux) shows the flag that way. General San Martín and O´Higgins appear embracing each other after the victory of the Battle of Maipu. The most important feature of the painting is that the national flag of Chile and the flag of the Army of the Andes can be seen in the foreground. The Flag of the Andes, with two vertical stripes with the coat of at the center of both stripes but displayed sideways. [see image]

However this painting was done more than 90 years after the battle of Maipú and just the remaining of the flag of the Andes as preserved today was used as model. There is also a lithography of the battle of Maipú made in 1819 where the flag appears as a horizontal stripes of white over light blue and the coat of arms displated in its correct position but closer to the hoist. [see image]

Since the 1960s more research has been done, and nowadays it is believed that the historical Andes Army flag was of two horizontal stripes. But in old texts and drawings in History books, the vertical variant can still be seen.

This and the fact that the text of the law defines the provincial flag of Mendoza of having the "present day dimensions" of the Andes Army flag, the provincial flag would look wider than longer. So, apparently just by a de facto custom it is usually hoisted as a vertical stripes flag with a horizontal coat of arms.
Francisco Gregoric, 22 Mar 2008

Photos: Other sites: Other sources:
  • [pzz00] Alberto Rubén Perazzo (2000): Nuestras Banderas - Vexilología Argentina
  • [traXX] Gustavo Tracchia (19xx): La Bandera de los Andes
    Published in Estandarte [est] No. 10
  • Personal communication with Dr. Miguel Carrillo Bascary

Flag as used

[Province of Mendoza coat of arms] image located by Paul Bassinson, 31 July 2023

An image of a flag of Mendoza Province, Argentina, obtained from https://www.facebook.com/photo.php, shows more typical flag dimensions.
Paul Bassinson, 31 July 2023

Provincial coat of arms

[Province of Mendoza coat of arms]
image by Francisco Gregoric, 22 Mar 2008

The provincial coat of arms is different from the one that appears in the provincial flag.

The coat of arms of the province of Mendoza was adopted on october 25, 1941 by Law No. 1,450. Before that several variants of coat of arms were used as provincial symbols.

The design is a variant of the Argentine national coat of arms. However the coat of arms of Mendoza has a cornucopia (horn of abundance) at bottom. full of fruits and flowers. It stands for the natural resources of the province. The most important activity of the province (grape plantations and wine production) is clearly represented by the grapes. Wheat and flowers also appear from the cornucopia.

Cornucopias had been used in several variants of coats of arms used by Mendoza before 1941, also.

The 17 rays of the raising sun represent the subdivisions of the province: 16 departments + the capital City of Mendoza.
Francisco Gregoric, 22 Mar 2008

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