Archway framing

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For something that large, I'd recommend framing it with plywood. Basically, you'll need to design the arch based upon how you intend to trim it out, and what is currently there. If you intend to trim it out with oak, for example, you'll need to design it to suit that trim plan.

Basically, take 3/4" plywood and rip down 2x4 material that will allow for the drywall/durabond in the wall dimension. For 1/2" drywall and a 2x4 wall, you'll take the 2x4 down to 2". Design the archway using red builder's paper, you can usually buy a roll cheap, or find a contractor with some and buy a chunk. Then design half the archway on the building paper, fold the paper and cut it out for a pattern.

Then take your plywood and rip it down to dimensions that are larger than the pattern. After ripping, mark out the patterns and cut accordingly with a jigsaw or bandsaw.

Then use that ripped down 2xmaterial for a frame and put the thing together. You'll need to use the 2" material all around and leave some areas accessible for nailing to the existing header/frame.

It is a lot of work to do an archway. There are few shortcuts that I know of.

If you have plaster walls existing, you could use the pattern on the wall, and very carefully saw out the pattern, and wire mesh the whole thing, but it'd take some fancy mudwork to make it look good.