Fresnel Lenses were designed in two basic styles, fixed and rotating
The fixed lens is mounted on a stationary pedestal and does not rotate.
All style Fresnel lenses have a lamp mounted in the center, or focal point of the lens with prisims arranged around the lamp to capture and redirect the light
Both fixed and rotating lenses have the same 2 dimensional cross section; the difference is how the prisms are shaped 3 dimensionally.
The prisms in a fixed lens are rotated around the vertical axis through the focal point of the lens forming horizontal prisms also called belt lenses.
The prism's are mounted in a brass framework. The light that radiates from the lamp is captured to form a vertical sheet of light that exits the lens.
With the prisms being curved around the focal point of the lens, the vertical sheet of light follows the same curvature as the prisms forming a disc of light that radiates out from the entire lens. This allows the light to be seen from all sides.
The observer will see a band of light from the top to the bottom of the lens. As you move around the lens, the band of light will follow you.
At a distance the mariner would see a continous glow from any point of the horizon.