“He Loves Me”

By Brad Jernigan (1922–1994)

A Masterpiece of Palm Beach Satire

This isn't just a painting; it’s a brilliant social commentary on the "Gilded Age" of the 1970s. In this iconic work, noted New Yorker illustrator Brad Jernigan takes the innocent "he loves me, he loves me not" daisy-petal game and gives it a ruthless, mid-century update.

The subject is the "Transactional Bride"—a socialite archetype captured in a state of bored luxury. Draped in opera gloves, a massive theatrical veil, and tiered pearls, she sits beside a silver ice bucket of champagne, staring directly at the viewer with a knowing, blasé expression. She is the personification of the ‘Merger Marriage,’ fully aware that her value in The Season is tied to the balance sheet.

Listing Specifications

• Medium: Original Oil on Canvas

• Dimensions: 20 × 16 inches 

• Signature: Signed by the artist, lower left.

• Artist Pedigree: Jernigan’s work is featured in major estate collections and has a documented auction history at Sotheby’s New York.