The blue rigi at sunrise (1842) this masterpiece is one of the series of 3 paintings the blue rigi, the dark rigi and the red rigi a series of transcendent views of swiss lakes and mountains. Turner depicts the rigi, a swiss mountain peak, rising above lake lucerne at sunrise and its defining dark tone reflects turners interest in the transforming effects of lighting and atmospheric effects. The blue rigi was turners first attempt at recording the moment before dawn when the sun just perceptibly begins to chase away the cool darkness of night. Using subtly modulated washes of blue. The thames near walton bridges (1805) while living for part of the time at isleworth, turner made many excursions along the river, drawing, painting and fishing his favourite hobby. He kept a boat, and often stopped overnight at various landingplaces. He also painted on board, as here on small wood panels and sometimes, more ambitiously, on canvas. Painting in oils in the open air, direct from the subject, was becoming popular in the early nineteenth century, in response to a growing feeling for naturalism. Turners oil sketches of the thames painted around 1805 show him at the forefront of the trend. Joseph mallord william turner (17751851) was one of the most important english romantic painters of the 19th century. He is known for his expressive colourisations, imaginative landscapes and turbulent, often violent marine paintings. He was championed by the leading english art critic john ruskin from 1840, and is today regarded as having elevated landscape painting to an eminence rivalling history painting. Turners imagination was sparked by shipwrecks, fires, and natural phenomena such as sunlight, storm, rain, and fog. He was fascinated by the violent power, turbulence and tidestorms of the sea. Its said that his last words before death were, the sun is god.