The first bust commissions came very early. In January 1807, Ludwig and Johann Gottfried Schadow agreed on the first group of marble busts. Over the following years, many sculptors became part of the project, including artists working in Berlin, Munich, Rome, and other artistic centers.
Ludwig wanted unity across the hall. He gave guidance on material, size, inscriptions, posture, and expression. The desired effect was calm dignity, not theatrical movement. That discipline helped many different sculptors contribute to one recognizable program.
The practical difficulty was often the portrait itself. For medieval or early modern figures, artists and advisers had to judge whether an image was trustworthy. When no convincing portrait could be found, a name plaque could preserve the memory without inventing a face.