Bernard Lens II
Illustration — The Royal Family of king William III, by Bernard Lens II Bernard Lens II (1659–1725) was an English engraver, pioneer of mezzotint technique, and publisher. The son of Bernard Lens I, "an obscure painter" of Dutch origin. Bernard Lens I practiced enamel technique and also authored religious treatises.
Also recorded as Bernard, II Lens · Bernard Lense · Bernard Lans · Bernard Lentz
Bernard Lens II
Bernard Lens II · Wellcome Collection, London · Wellcome Collection · Public Domain Mark
- Born
- 1659. · London.
- Died
- 1725. · London.
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
Illustration — The Royal Family of king William III, by Bernard Lens II Bernard Lens II (1659–1725) was an English engraver, pioneer of mezzotint technique, and publisher. The son of Bernard Lens I, "an obscure painter" of Dutch origin. Bernard Lens I practiced enamel technique and also authored religious treatises.
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wikidata · Q4893364 · wikipedia · Bernard Lens II
In this article
Biography
Biography
The art of Bernard Lens II, largely confined to developing mezzotint technique is an example of a general trend of hist age, when "issues of tonality, if not colour, were developing away from the etching's dependence on line". According to Malcolm Charles Salaman, "most attractive" of his portraits was that of Lady Mary Tudor. Salaman noted Lens for his "practically unique" insights into capabilities of mezzotint in rendering artificial light, evidenced by his series of Fireworks. These prints, commemorating the victories of the Williamite War in Ireland, were "the essential component of representational amplification in politics" of the period. The father of better known miniaturist Bernard Lens III. Father and son collaborated on joint projects, for example during the 1710 tour of Native American chiefs to England.
The recorded working language is English. Places of work recorded in the authority are London, Bath and Bristol. Work by Bernard Lens II is recorded in the collections of National Museum Paleis het Loo, Yale Center for British Art and Print Collection.
![A woman holding a tobacco pipe and a drinking glass. Mezzotint by B. Lens., [1700?], by Bernard Lens II](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/V0019063/full/800,/0/default.jpg)
A woman holding a tobacco pipe and a drinking glass. Mezzotint by B. Lens., [1700?], by Bernard Lens II
Bernard Lens II · Wellcome Collection, London · Wellcome Collection
![Saint Stephen: his martyrdom by stoning. Engraving by P. Masson after B. Lens., [1705?], by Bernard Lens II](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/V0033016/full/800,/0/default.jpg)
Saint Stephen: his martyrdom by stoning. Engraving by P. Masson after B. Lens., [1705?], by Bernard Lens II
Bernard Lens II · Wellcome Collection, London · Wellcome Collection
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1659
Bernard Lens II was born in 1659 at London.
1725
Bernard Lens II died in 1725 at London.
Primary material
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reference work
- “Bernard Lens II”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q4893364: Bernard Lens II
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Salaman, 1906, p=76 .
- 2.Worrall, 2006, p=154 .
- 3.Salaman, 1917, p=96 .
- 4.Worrall, 2006, p=153 .
Bibliography printed in the source article · 6
- Coombs, Katherine. Lens [Laus] family. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. 33. 380–382. 2004. 0-19-861383-0.
- Salaman, Malcolm C. The Old Engravers of England in Their Relation to Contemporary Life and Art (1540-1800). Cassell and Co. 81–87, 97, 177. 1906. 1049965266.
- Salaman, Malcolm C. The Graphic Arts of Great Britain. The Studio. 96. 1917. 1045564078.
- Sloan, Kim. Lens. The Dictionary of Art. Grove's Dictionaries. 19. 165. 1996. 1-884446-00-0.
- Vaughan, Alden T. Transatlantic encounters: American Indians in Britain, 1500-1776. Cambridge University Press. 2006. 0521865948.
- Worrall, David. Theatric revolution: drama, censorship and Romantic period subcultures 1773-1832. Oxford University Press. 2006. 0199276757.
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Further particulars
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The authorities additionally record the headings Bernard, II Lens, Bernard Lense, Bernard Lans, Bernard Lentz and B. His recorded language was English. One child is recorded: Bernard Lens III. Recognition and collections.
Identity and origins
Work by Bernard Lens II is
National Museum Paleis het Loo, Yale Center for British Art and Print Collection
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 16 August 2026.
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