Peter Schöpf, born in Munich in 1804, was the son of a sculptor. He received his initial training in wood carving from his father before attending the Munich Academy of Fine Arts in 1818, where he studied under Johann Martin von Wagner.
In 1832, Schöpf was granted a travel scholarship by King Ludwig I, allowing him to work in Rome at the studio of Danish master Bertel Thorvaldsen until 1834. He returned to Munich at the end of 1838 and embarked on creating works for Walhalla, including the busts of Christoph Willibald Gluck and Jean Paul. He also completed the last stage of the interior frieze designed by Martin von Wagner, which illustrates Saint Boniface converting the Germanic tribes to Christianity.
In October 1841, Schöpf went back to Rome to complete the bust of Kepler for Walhalla.