He came from a Greek family that had settled in
Muntenia and was originally named
Menelas Simonides. In Paris, he was a pupil of
Léon Bonnat and
Gabriel Ferrier and was best known for his
genre scenes and nudes. He received an honorable mention at the
Exposition Universelle (1889). His "Death of
Mithridates" also won a medal at the
Salon, where he exhibited from 1908 to 1912. As did most of those who worked in the Art Nouveau style, he designed numerous posters, including advertising for
Braun-Clément & Cie. (photographers) and
Le Figaro as well as one for a performance of
Théodora by
Victorien Sardou, starring
Sarah Bernhardt. He occasionally collaborated with
Jean de Paleologu (known as "Pal"). He returned to Romania intermittently to do interiors. His best-known work involved decorations for the Hall of Honor and the ceiling of the boardroom at the
CEC Palace, designed by the French architect, . The ceiling depicts
Fortuna and the Romanians following the
War of Independence. A
study for the mural won a silver medal at the
Exposition Universelle (1900). His portraits of King
Carol I and Queen
Elisabeth were destroyed by the Communist régime. In 2004, the contents of his studio were auctioned off at the
Hôtel Drouot. ==Selected works==