A rare Titian painting, whose grimy appearance led some to suspect it was a fake, has come into public ownership.

The circular piece, called The Triumph of Love, was last on public display in 1960 and was given to the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford in lieu of inheritance tax.

The work’s “over-painted” appearance led to doubts over its authenticity but the National Gallery has since confirmed it is genuine. Visitors to the National Gallery can see the work, which has been cleaned and conserved, from July 21 until September 20, when it moves to the Ashmolean for its reopening in November. Dr Christopher Brown, the director of the Ashmolean, said: “We are delighted that our collaboration with the National Gallery has revealed so much about this fascinating and rare painting.”